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What is a Carpool Lane?

Tricia Christensen
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Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 85,827
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A carpool lane may be known by many other names, like a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane or commuter lane. These lanes are found on or off highways and freeways and are designated for people driving with usually at least one passenger. They may help encourage commuting or sharing cars, and they can improve the speed at which people get to their destinations, especially during rush hour or high traffic hours.

The first carpool lanes in Europe were built in the 1990s, but in the US and Canada, they were installed much sooner. California had some lanes dedicated to this purpose by the 1970s, although they were often only “active” during rush hour or peak traffic times. This meant during other times, the lanes were open to anyone who wished to drive in them, no matter whether they had passengers or did not. In addition to allowing carpoolers to use the lanes, they were a frequent choice of buses too, which could quickly speed up trips via bus to various locations.

While it’s often most likely people will find these special lanes on an actual freeway or highway, they can be separated from the highway. Some are freestanding. A few are built only for people with multiple passengers.

There have been attempts by drivers to argue their right to use of a carpool lane, even when they technically shouldn’t be using it. Most times, if drivers use these without having the requisite number of passengers, they run the risk of getting a ticket or fine. People have claimed the right to use the lanes because they are pregnant, or they’ve used dummies, empty baby seats with dolls in them, and the like to avoid being detected. Usually, it’s simply not worth it to use one illegally, though it can be very tempting to do so when traffic is heavy elsewhere and the lane is invitingly empty. It can mean paying a high fine in many places, and getting a traffic ticket will slow up a driver even more.

One option for people who don’t commute with others is getting a hybrid or alternative fuel car. In some cases, high-fuel efficiency cars or alternative fuel vehicles are allowed on a carpool lane, despite the fact the car only contains the driver. This is not true in all locations.

Many people who are allowed to use these lanes may have another advantage when they cross bridges or toll roads during rush hour traffic. In some cases, charges can be reduced or eliminated if the car has three or more passengers. This may be yet another reason to commute with others: since people don’t have to stop to pay the toll, they save money and time in the process.

A related traffic control issue that has been developed in the US to improve traffic at several US/Mexican border crossings is the Secured Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI). There are SENTRI lanes that allow people to cross borders more easily at many points of entry to the US. They require an application, and those approved get a decal on their cars and a radio frequency identification card that allows them to quickly cross the border. This can help speed travel and expedite border crossing for people who are considered low-risk and who must cross the border frequently.

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Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WikiMotors contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By anon228718 — On Nov 10, 2011

A lot of states are adopting laws that will give breaks and incentives to people who carpool, one of those incentives being the use of these great carpool lanes. In the case that you think you don't have anyone to carpool with, you might want to try finding people through commuter/carpool websites, which there are plenty of.

By anon125046 — On Nov 08, 2010

Yes - what is a carpool lane? I thought it was a lane in which one did not have to pay a toll if one had two passengers, thereby speeding up one's commute and correspondingly speeding up the entire commute. Anon86718 would disagree with me, but that's another discussion.

My present peeve is that carpoolers now have to pay a toll, too! The carpool lane idea, for me, is to go through fast (not having to stop to pay toll) - getting to go through free is an added bonus.

This new system is only beneficial to FasTrak members. Oh well, guess I'll have to become one of them. (I got ticketed for going through with three vehicle occupants during carpool hours, but not stopping to pay because I didn't know this had changed.) Carpoolers beware!

By anon86718 — On May 26, 2010

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to calculate the amount of fume emission when four lanes are standing still versus what the emissions would be if everyone was able to use the extra lane.

It seems to me that the concept of carpool lanes is obviously failing.

If you don't believe it, just have a look at the empty carpool lane on I-880 in Berkeley compared to the crowded six lanes next to it. People who can afford to use carpool lanes are people with kids or the few lucky ones who can drive around with a coworker (mainly construction workers going around to a construction site).

For the rest of us who are either single, or married with no kids, or who work far enough from home that commuting with co-workers is not an option, we are doomed to breathe fumes. Just think of the wasted gas and pollution going into the atmosphere when two or three lanes of traffic stand still.

Would not it make sense if everyone was allowed to use the extra lane and make the commute just a little bit shorter for everyone instead of a lot shorter for a few?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WikiMotors contributor, Tricia...
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