Fine may be higher for repeat offenders. In addition, at the discretion of the county's Board of Supervisors, local counties can assess additional administrative fees. HOV lanes are usually located on the inside left lane and are identified by signs along the freeway and white diamond symbols painted on the pavement. In Northern California, HOV lanes are only operational on Monday thru Friday during posted peak congestion hours, for example: between 6 a.
All other vehicles may use the lanes during off-peak hours. In many cities, motorcycles are also allowed to use these lanes even when the rider is carrying no passenger. The thinking behind this is that it is safer for a two-wheel vehicle to keep moving than have them travel in a typical start and stop conditions. In some cities, it is common for a solo driver to pick up a passenger or two before using the lane.
HOV lane operating hours vary from one state to the other. In some states, these lanes are only accessible during rush hours when cities are experiencing the most traffic congestion. In such scenarios, these lanes will be handy in saving time and money for the carpoolers. During off-peak times, states may choose to open the lanes for all types of traffic or close them down until the next rush hour moment. Additionally, some states operate their lanes throughout the day.
The advantage of this approach is that ride-sharing is available at all times of the day. Operationalizing these lanes around the clock will also benefit travelers during occasional special events or when an accident or incident occurs, resulting in a massive traffic snarl-up. Other states put HOV lanes to other uses, such as allowing trucks to use these lanes during off-peak hours. Violators can be stopped and cited by the enforcement officer monitoring the HOV lane, or simply re-directed back into the slower-moving general purpose lanes.
Why do some HOV lanes allow a minimum of two passengers per vehicle, while others require a minimum of three? Entry requirements are set according to local travel conditions, levels of existing congestion, and projected use of the lane.
If there are a high number of existing two-person carpools, then letting them all in might cause congestion in the HOV lane. If there are not enough three-person carpools and buses, then the lane might be perceived by the public as "empty. The balancing of these objectives can be difficult.
Some states, in an effort to achieve this balance, have experimented with entry rules, changing them by time of day or raising or lowering the number of vehicles that can use the facility. All states with HOV facilities count children and infants as passengers. HOV lanes, designed to be free of congestion, sometimes have the appearance of being lightly traveled, especially when compared with adjacent, congested unrestricted lanes.
When the number of people traveling in an HOV lane is compared, though, HOV lanes are typically busier than unrestricted lanes. HOV lanes carry more people than unrestricted lanes, making them highly efficient as well as beneficial to air quality. Motorcycles are permitted by federal law to use HOV lanes, even with only one passenger. The rationale behind allowing motorcycles to use HOV lanes is that it is safer to keep two-wheeled vehicles moving than to have them travel in start-and-stop traffic conditions.
States can choose to override this provision of federal law, if they determine that safety is at risk. Usually not, although in isolated cases two-seater vehicles are permitted.
Most states wish to maintain a consistent approach to enforcing entry requirements, and do not allow exceptions to entry rules. The entry rule is based not on how full the car is, but on how many passengers are in it. Many states prohibit oversized vehicles, such as tractor-trailer trucks, for safety reasons.
For the same reasons, parades, processions and certain types of heavy trucks and large recreational vehicles are sometimes precluded from using HOV lanes.
HOV lanes have existed going on four decades now. Studies have shown that HOV lanes are frequently as safe as, and in many cases safer than, unrestricted lanes.
The safest HOV lanes are those that are physically separated from the adjacent lanes with a concrete barrier, but that would be the case for general purpose lanes too. Operating hours vary from state to state. Some states operate their HOV lanes only during rush hours, when traffic is heaviest and HOV lanes are most likely to save time for car-poolers. During off-peak hours, these states either open the lanes to all traffic or simply close them until the next scheduled opening.
The central concept for HOV lanes is to move more people rather than more cars. Each vehicle that travels in an HOV lane must carry the minimum number of people posted on the entrance signs. In Tennessee, that means at least two people. Exceptions include motorcycles and hybrid vehicles. Public awareness and enforcement are key in maintaining the effectiveness of HOV lanes.
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