Many people let their GPS systems do their navigating these days — and just like the routes humans plan, they often prioritize speed over safety.
Some companies, such as UPS, have programmed their GPS systems to reduce or completely avoid left turns. Here is why you might want to avoid them, too.
They force you to cross the flow of traffic
When you make a right turn, you stay in the flow of traffic. You don’t need to cross any vehicles coming in a different direction. When you make a left turn, you must cross the flow of traffic that is coming toward you. That creates an opportunity for a catastrophic mistake by you or one of the drivers coming in the opposite direction.
Each driver needs to judge what the other will do to pass safely. If you are waiting at a left turn and misjudge an oncoming driver’s speed, they could T-bone you as you are halfway across the turn. Likewise, if they misjudge your speed, or think you are going to wait when you are not, they could crash into the side of you. There is also an opportunity to miss spotting each other. This is especially relevant for motorcyclists or cyclists who often get hidden from view by larger vehicles.
Adjusting your route to reduce or eliminate left turns might seem as though it will be slower, but UPS actually found it was often quicker, as the waits for a gap to turn left in are often considerable. They also found it saved them fuel, as well as reduced the chance of accidents.
If you are injured in a collision, remember that you may need to fight to get the compensation you are due. Experienced legal guidance can be a great help on such occasions.
