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UPS Using Software To Eliminate Left Turns
cybermage writes "The NY Times has a story about UPS using software to dramatically reduce the number of left turns their drivers take. With a fleet of vehicles their size, the time and money saved by pre-planning routes that try to eliminate left turns means big savings." Some CS major probably figured this out instead of traveling salesman.
There's a difference between concept and implementation. Traffic shaping on highway onramps can help reduce congestion on the highways itself. This must be inplemented with some sort of feedback loop between traffic flow on the highway and the number of cars allowed onto it.
If you are waiting a long time when no traffic is on the highway then the implementation is flawed.
To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
While the implementation may well be flawed, it's also possible that the observer's perception of the situation is too limited to adequately judge it. By the nature of the problem, shaping traffic patterns can involve local actions that look non-optimal but have a positive effect on the overall system.
You're going for fuel efficiency, many others or not.
I'll be the first to tell you that most people who gun it between intersection and weave through traffic trying to go faster are just flailing their arms and panicking. They're not helping anyone, especially not themselves.
However, if you're like me, and you travel the same routes day in and day out you start to see where problems occur. Well calculated lane changes to avoid things like probable stopped buses a block down and left turners without separate lanes can safe you very noticeable amount of time. Suddenly, racing past someone even if it means getting caught at the same light with them means that they're behind you when it all merges down to one lane. Instead of being stuck behind someone going 50mph on the highway, or more than likely 30mph, you're in a position to be in front of the person instead of behind them. Did it save gas? Don't know, don't care. Did it mean I could leave for work ten minutes later and not have to frustrated by slow person in front of me? Yep, and that's what I was looking for.