# Driving in HOV lanes
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 21, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354 "2022-07-21T23:31:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/1 "2022-07-21T23:31:52Z")
Say you are legally driving in the HOV lane, cruising 5 mph over the posted limit. If someone is coming up behind you in the lane, do you feel you should move out of the lane so they can pass, speed up if safe, or maintain your speed?
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### Author:  [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/2 "2022-07-21T23:33:04Z")
I think you should let faster traffic pass you on the left. If the HOV lane is the leftmost lane, then move over and let them pass.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/3 "2022-07-21T23:35:41Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#):
>
> Say you are legally driving in the HOV lane, cruising 5 mph over the posted limit. If someone is coming up behind you in the lane, do you feel you should move out of the lane so they can pass, speed up if safe, or maintain your speed? -
Depends on the speed of the other lanes. No way I’m going from 65 to near zero and trying to clear the lane. Unless I _really_ want to piss off the impatient fucker.
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### Author:  [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/4 "2022-07-21T23:42:02Z")
> [@Moriarty](#):
>
> the HOV lane is the leftmost lane, then move over and let them pass.
The HOV lane is not super passing lane, it is an HOV lane. Besides, where I am it is only legal to move into or out of the HOV lane at certain locations. If I’m not at one of those locations, then moving to the right is forbidden.
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### Author:  [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/5 "2022-07-22T01:21:44Z")
Yes, here the HIV lanes are on the left, meaning to pull over one pulls into the regular passing, fast lane.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/6 "2022-07-22T01:49:12Z")
> [@](#):
>
> HIV lanes
Do they have less tailgating?
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/7 "2022-07-22T02:27:35Z")
In NY, the HOV lanes are separated from the other lanes and you can only enter or leave them in certain locations, usually near exits. The laws require you continue without pulling over.
I would maintain my speed. I’m usually on cruise control anyway.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/8 "2022-07-22T10:52:38Z")
I don’t pull over, since that’s not allowed. I might increase my speed a bit but I’d probably just maintain my speed. There’s really no passing in the HOV lanes.
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### Author:  [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/9 "2022-07-22T11:24:04Z")
What’s a HOV lane?
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/10 "2022-07-22T11:29:57Z")
High occupancy vehicle, sometimes called a carpool lane. To use it, there need be be usually at least two people in the car, although apparently the minimum can be three. I’ve only seen 2+ myself. (Which makes me feel “high occupancy” is a bit of a misnomer.)
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### Author:  [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/11 "2022-07-22T11:35:34Z")
Ah, got it, we have those too (called car sharing lanes, or 2+ lanes). And no, I wouldn’t pull over or speed up. I also wouldn’t be cruising 5mph over the limit, because I’m not a speed freak and we have lots of cameras on busy roads. The other car needs to slow down.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/12 "2022-07-22T13:53:58Z")
The only HOV lane near me is about 3 miles long, with one entrance and exit, so no way to move over. I’d maintain my speed.
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### Author:  [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/13 "2022-07-22T21:08:11Z")
> [@echoreply](#):
>
> Besides, where I am it is only legal to move into or out of the HOV lane at certain locations. If I’m not at one of those locations, then moving to the right is forbidden.
Then maintain your speed.
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> To use it, there need be be usually at least two people in the car…
And how we count “two people” is now up for hot debate.
> **[A pregnant woman got a ticket for driving in the HOV lane in Texas. She says...](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/07/11/us/pregnant-woman-hov-lane/index.html)**
>
> The officer noted that there did not seem to be anyone else in the car, but Brandy Bottone had a retort -- she was 34 weeks pregnant.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/14 "2022-07-22T21:19:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> I’ve only seen 2+ myself. (Which makes me feel “high occupancy” is a bit of a misnomer.)
Considering that a large majority of cars only have one occupant, 2 is pretty high occupancy.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/15 "2022-07-22T21:25:28Z")
I think that pregnant claim is poppycock. It’ll be interesting to see if she wins.
As for the OP, yes I would definitely move over, or speed up a little if I can’t move over. I’m in California and most HOV lanes are at the far left. If traffic to my right is traveling 40 or slower, no I would not move over. Otherwise I would.
However I’m pretty good about scanning my mirrors. I’ll likely see the guy coming up behind me for some time. I have time to plan my merge to the right.
In California there is often white lines paint that shows you where you should or not enter or exit the HOV lane. I will move right to let the guy pass and then will reenter, even if I’m not supposed to exit or reenter. I’ve been doing that for years and have never had trouble doing it.
It’s the golden rule — if the roles were reversed I’d want the guy ahead of me doing that. And when they do I give them a little wave.
In California we have a basic rule: traffic **moves**. And so my behavior helps to foster that.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/16 "2022-07-22T21:29:07Z")
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> I think that pregnant claim is poppycock. It’ll be interesting to see if she wins. -
> **[Pregnant Texas woman says unborn baby should count as car passenger after...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pregnant-texas-woman-says-unborn-baby-count-car-passenger-receiving-ho-rcna37531)**
>
> Brandy Bottone cited Texas' penal code, which recognizes an unborn baby as a person.
Texas, meet petard.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/17 "2022-07-22T21:42:02Z")
Crazy.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/18 "2022-07-22T21:49:19Z")
Cackles wildly.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/19 "2022-07-22T22:53:57Z")
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> I think that pregnant claim is poppycock. It’ll be interesting to see if she wins.
I think it makes sense given their premise of the status of the fetus now in TX. After all driving with a child passenger really does not fulfill the intent of the HOV lane either but a child does count as a passenger. Though I guess that someone somewhere rearranged their child’s daycare location so they can drive in the HOV lane to/from work with them in the car.
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### Author:  [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-in-hov-lanes/968354/20 "2022-07-23T03:39:45Z")
A few years ago there was a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Colorado that would have made a fetus a person under the law. Because the HOV lanes require 2 or 3 _people_ in the car, the personhood amendment would have made a fetus count towards the HOV requirement.
> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> someone somewhere rearranged their child’s daycare location so they can drive in the HOV lane to/from work with them in the car
When the HOV lane near me used to be 2+, I would definitely use it taking my kid to day care. Then it switched to 3+, so that stopped working. The HOV lane is always free for motorcycles, but they don’t make toddler seats for motorcycles, and I couldn’t find a helmet small enough, so on daycare days I just had to suffer in traffic.
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