High capacity runners

Introduction

A high-occupancy vehicle lane (also known as HOV lane or HOV lane) is a restricted traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and at least one passenger, including ride-hailing vehicles, shared vans, and transit buses. These restrictions may apply only during peak traffic hours or may be applied at all times. There are different types of lanes: temporary or permanent lanes with barriers concrete, bidirectional or reversible lanes, and exclusive, concurrent or contraflow lanes that operate during peak periods.[1].

The normal minimum occupancy level is two or three occupants. Many jurisdictions exempt other vehicles, including motorcycles, charter buses, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, low-emission and other environmentally friendly vehicles, and/or single-occupancy vehicles that pay a toll. HOV lanes are typically implemented to increase the average occupancy of vehicles and people traveling with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.[2][3][4].

History

USA

The introduction of HOV lanes in the United States progressed slowly during the 1970s and early 1980s. The greatest growth occurred from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. (Capital Beltway)"), and opened in 1969 as a dedicated bus lane.[5][6][7] The dedicated bus lane opened in December 1973 for shared vehicles with four or more occupants, becoming the first instance in which buses and shared vehicles officially shared an HOV lane for a considerable distance.[8][9].

In 2005, the two lanes of this HOV 3+ facility carried during the morning rush hour (6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) a total of 31,700 people in 8,600 vehicles (3.7 people per vehicle), while the three or four general-purpose lanes carried 23,500 people in 21,300 vehicles (1.1 people per vehicle). The average travel time at the HOV facility was 29 minutes and 64 minutes in general traffic lanes. (Virginia)"), Virginia, and has two reversible lanes separated from the regular lanes by barriers, with access via elevated entrance and exit ramps. Three or more people in one vehicle (HOV 3+) are required to use the facility during peak hours on weekdays.[11].

The second HOV facility on a freeway, which opened in 1970, was the Lincoln Tunnel Bus Contraflow Lane and Helix in Hudson County, New Jersey. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Lincoln Tunnel 23,500 people in the morning rush hour[6] and 62,000 passengers during the four-hour morning period.[12].

High capacity runners

Introduction

History

USA

Variants

Commercial access and transit lane

A business access and transit lane (BAT) is a type of HOV lane that allows all traffic to enter the lane for a short distance to access other streets and business entrances.[37].

High Occupancy Toll Lane

Because some HOV lanes are not used at full capacity, users of low or single occupancy vehicles can use an HOV lane if they pay a toll. This scheme is known as high-occupancy toll lane (or HOT lanes), and has been mainly introduced in the United States. The first practical implementation was California's 91 Express Lanes, previously privately tolled, in Orange County, California ("Orange County, California") in 1995, followed in 1996 by Interstate 15 north of San Diego ("San Diego, California").[38][39] According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, in 2012 there were 294 miles of HOT/Express lane corridors and 163 miles of HOT/Express lane corridors under construction in the United States.[40].

Solo drivers can use the HOV lanes upon payment of a "Tax (tax)" fee that varies depending on demand. Tolls change throughout the day based on real-time traffic conditions, which is intended to manage the number of cars in the lanes to maintain good travel times.[41][42].

Proponents claim that all motorists benefit from HOT lanes, even those who choose not to use them. This argument only applies to projects that increase the total number of lanes.[43] Proponents also claim that HOT lanes incentivize the use of public transportation and ride-sharing. There has been controversy over this concept, and HOT systems have been called "Lexus" lanes, as critics see this new pricing scheme as a benefit for the rich.[44].

HOT tolls are collected through toll houses, automatic license plate recognition, or electronic toll collection. Some systems use RFID transmitters to monitor lane entry and exit and charge drivers based on demand. Typically, tolls increase as traffic density and congestion in toll lanes increases, a policy known as congestion pricing. The objective of this pricing system is to minimize traffic congestion in the lanes.[45][46].

Compliance, enforcement and evasion

Fines are typically imposed on drivers of unauthorized vehicles using the lanes.[58].

After the introduction of HOVs, some drivers placed inflatable dolls in the passenger seat, a practice that persists today, although it is now illegal.[58] In 2005, cameras capable of distinguishing between human beings and mannequins or dolls were tested in the United Kingdom.[59].

In the United States, law enforcement agencies have documented various methods used by drivers to circumvent HOV occupancy regulations:

• - Placing shop dummies, inflatable dolls, kickboxing dummies or cardboard cutouts in the passenger seat;

• - Place polystyrene foam supports with wigs or balloons with drawn faces on the headrest of the passenger seat;

• - Fasten your seat belt on the passenger side and pretend to talk to someone reclined in that seat;

• - Tint the front windshield and/or lower the passenger side visor in an effort to obstruct the view toward the passenger seat;

• - Cover an empty baby seat with a blanket and/or place a doll in it;

• - Place dogs, cats or other domestic animals in the passenger seat.[60].

In early 2006, an Arizona woman alleged that she had been improperly ticketed for using the HOV lane because the fetus she was carrying justified her use of the lane, while pointing out that Arizona traffic laws do not define what constitutes a person. However, a judge later ruled that to be considered a "person" under Arizona traffic laws, a person must occupy a "separate and distinct" space in a vehicle.[60] Likewise, in California, in order to use HOV lanes, there must be two (or, if indicated, three) separate people occupying seats in a vehicle, and a fetus does not count toward this requirement.[61].

In 2009 and 2010, non-compliance rates in HOV lanes in Brisbane, Australia were found to be approaching 90%. Strengthened law enforcement led to greater compliance, the average duration of bus trips was reduced by approximately 19%, and the total number of people transported increased by 12%.[62].

In February 2010, a 61-year-old woman attempted to pass off a life-sized mannequin as a passenger to use the HOV lane in New York state. A police officer on routine HOV patrol became suspicious when he observed the alleged passenger wearing sunglasses and using the visor on a cloudy morning. When the officer approached the vehicle, he discovered that the “passenger” was actually a mannequin wearing lipstick, designer glasses, a long wig, and a blue sweater. The driver received a traffic ticket for using the HOV lane without a human passenger, which carries a fine of $135 in 2010 and two points on the driver's license.[63][64].

In January 2013, a motorist tried to claim that his company's bylaws, which had been placed unfastened in the passenger seat, constituted a person, citing the principle of corporate personhood, and the California State Vehicle Code, which defines a person as "individuals and corporations." This argument was rejected in traffic court, where the presiding judge commented: "Common sense says that carrying a sheaf of papers in the front seat does not alleviate traffic congestion."[65]

In March 2015, a motorist attempted to use a cardboard cutout of actor Jonathan Goldsmith to access an HOV lane in Fife, Washington. The officer noted that other drivers had used sleeping bags in previous attempts to enter the HOV lane.[66]

In July 2022, a pregnant woman in Texas alleged that her fetus counted as a passenger for purposes of HOV lane use following the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and the subsequent consideration of fetuses as persons under Texas law.[67]