FORT KENT, Maine (AP) — Taking its cue from cargo carrier UPS, a northern Maine school system is urging its bus drivers to modify their routes by making fewer left turns, a change designed to promote efficiency and save fuel .

Directors of School Administrative District 27 in the Fort Kent area said the voluntary measure took effect with the start of the school year earlier this month.

“This year we are faced with dealing with the high cost of fuel, and as such we have taken steps to become more efficient,” Superintendent Patrick O’Neill said in a letter to district residents. “One such idea that has gotten UPS lots of attention is the ‘Don’t Turn Left’ concept.”

The changes at UPS shaved close to 30 million miles off delivery routes, saved 3 million gallons of gas and reduced emissions by 32,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the company’s Web site.

UPS achieved the savings by changing driving patterns to minimize left turns and reduce the amount of time spent idling in traffic waiting to turn, O’Neill said.

The idea was brought to the board by member Barry Ouellette, who works with trucks in the northern Maine woods, O’Neill said.

The potential benefits of the route changes go beyond the budget, he said.

“This approach will not only save us diesel fuel, it is safe and more efficient.” O’Neill said in his letter. “Buses won’t have to jockey as cars come in from the left and right driveways (and drivers) will also have a clear vision of students walking between parked cars and being dropped off.”