Turn Right, Save Gas

Hypermiling may be the word of the year, but did you know avoiding left turns, especially at intersections with lights, reduces your idle time and overall fuel consumption? It's not just an urban legend. UPS really did save 3 million gallons of gas in 2007 with that practice. Here are some other things they suggest you do to help save money and be more efficient:

Plan your route. When running errands or going on a trip, consider the best way to get to the locations without backtracking. When taking a long trip, use maps or Internet sites to determine the quickest and most direct route.

Avoid turns across traffic. UPS routes are designed to avoid turns across traffic. Idling while waiting to turn across traffic wastes not only time, but gas - not to mention the cars idling behind you waiting for you to turn. It is also safer to avoid across-traffic turns since you reduce the number of times you cut across oncoming traffic.

Schedule regular car maintenance. Maintaining your car can affect its gas mileage. Just making sure that the tires are properly inflated can save on fuel economy.

Drive responsibly. Driving style can affect the gas mileage of your vehicle. Making a fast start from a stoplight or driving over the speed limit can reduce fuel economy.

Reduce idling. UPS practices a "no idling" policy - no matter how short of a stop a UPS driver makes, the engine is turned off. Whether you're at the bank drive through or waiting to pick up the kids from school, remember to shut your engine down!

Reduce the weight in the vehicle. Unnecessary items in the trunk can contribute to lower gas mileage. Eliminate anything you don't need.

Use the car with the best gas mileage. If you have more than one car, use the one that gets the best gas mileage when making long trips. UPS tries to match its vehicle to the needs of its routes. In some cases, that means deliveries are made by bicycle, particularly if the streets are too congested to pass through easily.

Do you have some fuel efficiency tips to share?

Source: UPS Fact Sheet.