MANILA, Philippines—An in-house study conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has shown that its much maligned U-turn slots on major thoroughfares has led to P40 million to P50 million in fuel savings for motorists every year since 2005.

The MMDA also pointed out that its rerouting schemes have saved motorists more than P2 billion yearly in terms of gains in opportunity and productivity as a result of faster travel time.

The cost-savings analysis was based on the findings of a study conducted by the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, the agency’s public information office said in a statement Sunday.

“In terms of fuel savings only, P42.84 million [has been] saved every year since 2005 on normal U-turn slots on non-widened roads, while P51.45 million [has been] saved on U-turn slots on widened roads,” it quoted MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando as saying.

According to the MMDA, the savings resulted from significant increases in the average vehicular speed on major thoroughfares where 23 U-turn slots had been set up by the agency.

“In terms of total savings to motorists, or the savings in take-home pay and lost opportunity and productivity, it was revealed that up to P2.33 billion [has been] saved every year since 2005,” the agency said.

The MMDA observed that despite brickbats thrown its way because of the “unconventional” U-turn slot scheme, “what they don’t know is that the U-turn slot has operational efficiency in time and space.”

“At a U-turn slot, the flow of vehicles is nonstop and non-gap,” the agency added.

“This is felt even more when traveling at night, in which the flow of traffic at the U-turn slot is continuous, unlike some corners where motorists need to stop at the red light,” it said.