Mike Blake/Reuters
If customers at participating drive-thrus don't get their food within 60 seconds of ordering, then they will get a coupon for a free lunch item, $4.
Customers will be given timers when they order to measure their wait. McDonald's is testing the program at several locations in South Florida from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays through Aug. 29.
A one-minute service wait will be a vast improvement for McDonald's.
The chain's average drive-thru wait is currently three minutes and 9.5 seconds, which is the longest average wait time in at least 15 years, according to a $4
McDonald's $4 last year to add a third window to its drive-thru lanes in order to address complaints about service times.
Even if McDonald's ends up giving away a bunch of free food coupons as a result of the South Florida test, the promotion could still help drive traffic during slow weekday lunch hours. And every coupon that's awarded likely means a returning customer.