# Why the buffer zone between HOV lane and the lane next to it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-buffer-zone-between-hov-lane-and-the-lane-next-to-it/557491>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 17, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-buffer-zone-between-hov-lane-and-the-lane-next-to-it/557491 "2010-10-17T23:21:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-buffer-zone-between-hov-lane-and-the-lane-next-to-it/557491/21 "2010-10-19T17:14:39Z")

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> [@njtt](#):
>
> That just shifts the question to why is it such a big a deal to stop people moving into (or out of) these lanes (except in the places where they let you, of course)? If you are eligible to be be in the HOV lane, why should you not be able to move into it, and, especially, out of it, as freely (and, of course, with the same precautions) that you can change between other lanes?

This.

It has happened with me several times when I have moved into the HOV lane and very soon found myself behind an idiot driving 90 kmph and I can see cars zooming by on my right at 130kmph. And now I can’t even get out of this lane until I reach one those lengths where I am allowed to change and they can be at great intervals sometimes.

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