No more left turns!

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by glider

Every morning, instead of driving down a street perpendicular to the(two lane) main drag, and waiting to make a LEFT turn to the coffee shop across the street to the LEFT of the intersection, I drive down to the next perpendicular street,(now I'm across the street from the coffee shop, which is now on my RIGHT), now I only have to wait for a break in the right travel lane, turn right, then LEFT into the store...saves a ton of gas waiting for a break across two lanes of traffic...hope this helps....Peace,Glider

If you have money to buy coffee every morning in a coffee shop, you have money for the tiny amount of gas consumed while idling, waiting to turn left. And please don't tell us you are saving the planet in not doing it.

Mr. Pancake wrote:

Turn your engine off while you're waiting to turn left and then you won't have to do any of that other nonsense.

So simple, so effective, and so true.

[kir_kenix]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pancake

Turn your engine off while you're waiting to turn left and then you won't have to do any of that other nonsense.

Eh, its all situational I guss. The place where I take a left turn every day (twice a day actually) usually has a line of 4-5 cars. That would mean restarting, moving up one spot, and shutting the engine off several times. Instead I drive maybe 150 yards up the street (coasting mind you), whip a U'ey, drive 150 yards down the street and take a right turn into my stop. Saves time deffinetley; probably saves gas. Works for me anyway.

I think if your are familiar with the town and the layout of where you do most of your driving there are plenty of "shortcuts" that save time/gas/agrivation. Would this strategy work everytime at every intersection everywhere on earth? Probably not, but its worth investigating if its a turn you have to take every day.

[notanarborist]

Originally Posted by kir_kenix

Alot of states already mandate this, or at least something similiar I think. Your talking about making a U turn 1 block from your destination and taking a right turn into the location right? Michigan (among other states) has this policy and it works pretty well to keeping traffic moving along in high density areas.

Yeah, and then you and 50 other cars burn up all that fuel and more when you have to stop at the next two stop lights that are out of time with the others.
There is a section of two lights on US-31 through Holland where you have to travel 30mph in a 50mph zone in order to not have to stop. Then in the rural area up to Grand Haven, you again can not travel any one speed to make it through the lights, you have to very your speed upto 10mph above or below the speed limit between lights or you are stopping.
And this is after the city supposedly spent 10's of thousands of dollars on a traffic light study.

[jsatter]

Originally Posted by Phantom

I think I'm missing something here I do not see how driving past a location on the left and then turning right gets you any closer or saves time. You cant be making a U turn because that would be a left turn if you are doing a loop to get there that adds distance and six more turns.

It goes to route planning. Generally speaking, turning right results in less time spent idling while waiting to make a turn than making a left turn. At least in states where a right turn on red light's legal. UPS reduced their fuel consumption by reducing the number of left turns on the routes in favor or.maximizing the right turns.