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Share the Ride |
Frequently Asked Questions About Carpool LanesWhy are they sometimes called HOV lanes? HOV stands for “high occupancy vehicle”—that is, more than one person occupies the vehicles traveling in these lanes. You’ll recognize HOV lanes (more commonly referred to as carpool lanes) by the diamonds painted on the road...a reason they’re also at times referred to as “diamond lanes.” Why can’t solo drivers use them if they’re not full? Carpool lanes may look like they’re not pulling their weight, but on average one carpool lane moves as many people as two regular lanes. The incentive to use a carpool lane is that you’ll travel faster. These lanes need to be free and clear to motivate people to share the ride and reduce traffic on all lanes. Do people really save time? On average, commuters who use carpool lanes in Southern California save 36 minutes a day—or a whopping third of their total commute time. The more miles your commute, the more time you save. Why do I see people driving alone in carpool lanes? You’re not the only one seeing solo drivers in carpool lanes—they’re also quickly spotted by CHP and fined. According to Caltrans and CHP reports, the actual violation rate on most carpool lanes is a mere 1.5%. How can I find a carpool lane? It’s easy to find a carpool lane! Southern California has more than 700 lanes miles of carpool lanes with plans to expand the network more in the coming years. A carpool lane—which is always built as an addition to a freeway, never as a conversion of an existing lane—is the left-most lane, divided from the regular lanes by double yellow lines (except at entry and exit points). Find a carpool lane on your commute on our Southern California Carpool Lane Map. Can carpoolers use toll lanes for free? The toll lanes on the 91 Freeway in Orange County let carpools with three or more ride free (except when traveling eastbound Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m. when tolls apply at a 50% discount). You must have a “transponder”—a small radio-powered debit device that affixes to your windshield—and ride in the designated lane. For details, go to www.91expresslanes.com
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