Do you know the HOV Lane rules?

March 24th, 2013  |  Insurance

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are on highways and city streets across Ontario. Also, commonly referred to as carpool lanes, they are used to help reduce the amount of traffic on the highways. The idea with these lanes is to get people to carpool, give them a reason to do so, and ultimately, reduce the number of vehicles that are on the road.

But, do you know the rules of the HOV lanes?

Here is what you need to know about HOV lanes:

• The lanes are reserved for vehicles that carry 2 or more people
• Emergency vehicles can use the HOV at any time
• HOV lanes within the city often are enforced during peak hours
• Commercial trucks and motorcycles are not permitted to use the HOV lane

A common misconception about these lanes is that all passengers must have a valid driver’s license – this is not the case. Children and any adults can be passengers.

Why use the HOV lane?

There are many benefits to using the HOV on a daily basis. They include:

• They will save you time on your commute
• The lanes will help you save money on gas and fuel efficiency
• You will experience a less stressful drive
• The more people that use the HOV lanes, the better it is for the environment
• Reduced congestion and fewer cars on the road

While there is no shortage of benefits to using the HOV lane, there is still not enough people using them to reduce congestion on the road.

Do you use the HOV lane? Are you guilty of using the HOV lane without passengers?