Prisoner’s Dilemma of Turning Left or Right
https://theconversation.com/why-ups-drivers-dont-turn-left-and-you-probably-shouldnt-either-71432
UPS, one of the largest parcel companies in the United States, is known for their brown colored trucks and uniforms. However, what they’re not known for, and should be, is the way that they save gas. Like a lot of parcel shipping companies, UPS is always looking for ways to reduce costs and delivery times for shipping packages. Like most companies, they tried to find the fastest route to each destination in order to achieve their goal.However, UPS decided to take a different route (pun intended). They decided that in order to save gas, their trucks should try to avoid turning through major traffic roads. Thus in countries, such as the US, their trucks turn right and not left. While in other countries, they turn left and not right.
The Game theory aspect that comes into play is prisoner’s dilemma. If everyone cooperates, then the system would work. If those turning at a major road turned right (in America), then the flow of traffic would be uninterrupted and people would save time by turning immediately instead of waiting to make a left turn. However, If one person decides to make a left instead onto a major road, then that person would get where they are going faster at the expense of holding up those driving on the major road. Thus if everyone cooperates, then everyone (as a whole) would be in the best position. However, if one side does not cooperate, they would reap great rewards individually but would leave everyone involved worse off.