In northern California, you would be identified as a "Road Boulder"!

 

I'm still annoyed that a HOV lane (HIGH Occupancy Lane) can allow a single person in a car just because it's a hybrid. The point of HOV is to get to your destination quicker. So go with the flow or don't bother getting in that lane is my motto.

 

Well, lucky for me, the state of California disagrees. The primary reason for the construction of carpool lanes was to reduce pollution (LA smog!)... the secondary benefit (and the incentive for use) was getting to the destination quicker. Prior to hybrids, the pollution reduction was intended to come from having fewer vehicles on the road. Two people in one car meant one less car on the road.

With single-person hybrids, our emissions per person easily beat out an SUV, even loaded with seven persons (which they rarely have). The state decided that the emission / environmental benefits outweighed the potential clutter in the carpool lane. They limited this clutter by only allowing the cleanest vehicles (HCH, Prius, some Insight) to use HOV... and only up to 75,000 vehicles statewide (later expanded to 85,000).

Incidentally, I do "go with the flow"... but there are occasions where someone chooses to grossly exceed the speed limits. When I'm in HOV, it's not my job to get out of their way.

 

That's crap, take a non civic hybrid with 2 people and that will beat a hybrid in pollution any day of the week. Not to mention it removed one car off the road to boot. The point of an HOV is to reduce traffic and pollution by maximizing the efficiency of a single car with multiple passengers..

Next you are going to make the arguement that a bus full of people is less efficient than you ferrying the same amount of people in your hybrid.

"it not my job blah blah blah" Then don't get upset when someone goes around you. I know I would.

 

The California Vehicle Code would argue that it is everybody's job to yield the right of way to faster traffic, regardless of speed.

Those of you that feel justified for whatever reason not to yield are the most dangerous drivers on the road, a major contributor to road congestion, unsafe driving conditions, and air pollution.

If you are overtaken by another driver in the lane you are driving in, you must move the the right lane at the first available safe opportunity regardless if you are in HOV or any other lane. Not only is it the law, it is the sensible safe, and intelligent thing to do.

What is not your job is to impede the traffic flow because of your own standards.

Remember: Don't be a dumbass, use the left lane only to pass!

 

What about the fact that if it had not been for the carpool lane benefit many like myself would not have bought a hybrid and would have continue to drive solo on the FWY. Thanks to this benefit alone I am now spending 45 minutes on hybrid instead of 1:30 minutes on my SUV. Look I am 28, I got my last speeding ticket 2 years ago, been there done that. The way I see it is that the legal speed limit is 65MPH +5 is reasonable, anything above that will be breaking the law. Why should I break the law just so you can go faster... keep in mind that in the carpool lane, you just can't move to the right lane. By the way the flow of traffic outside the carpool lane is 20MPH.

 

I deal with this alot as my drive to work is mostly along a straight two-lane road where the speed limit is 45. It has a few stop lights on it that you can see from quite a distance. I REFUSE to step on the gas when the light is red ahead (such a waste of gas) but other than that, I do drive the speed limit or 5 over. Apparently this is not good enough. I get illegally passed ALL the time and yesterday got cussed out and flipped off by a school bus driver. I can understand the frustration when somebody in front of you is going slower than you would like - but unsafe driving is not the answer. If somebody is tailgating me badly I'll tap on my brake lights to let them know I'd like them to back off. 50% of the time they'll respond to this. If they reallly start acting like a**holes then I slow down more. If only they knew how much I was helping their Fuel Economy!

 

Orient, I decided to look up what you said, I am having a slow day at work and I am enjoying this conversation, and this is what I found.

It's really up to interpretation... as for myself I am going to apply my lesson learned as preached by a cop. " All of you are breaking the law, It just happens that I pulled you over and their wrong doesn't make you right". Judge agreed and still enforced my speeding ticket, so much for the flow of traffic defense.

California Driver Handbook - Laws and Rules of the Road

Heavy traffic or bad weather

You must drive slower when there is heavy traffic or bad weather. However, if you block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic by driving too slowly, you may be given a ticket. If you choose to drive slower than other traffic, do not drive in the “No. 1” (fast) lane. (more information) Always move to the right when another driver is close behind you and wishes to drive faster.
Maximum Speed Limit

The maximum speed limit on most California highways is 65 mph. You may drive 70 mph where posted. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways and for vehicles towing trailers.
Other speed limit signs are posted for the type of roads and traffic in each area. All speed limits are based on ideal driving conditions. Construction zones usually have reduced speed zones.
Driving faster than the posted speed limit, or than is safe for current conditions, on any road is dangerous and illegal. High speed increases your stopping distance. The faster you go, the less time you have to avoid a hazard or accident. The force of a 60 mph crash isn’t just twice as great as a 30 mph crash, it’s four times as great!

Speed Limits

California has a “Basic Speed Law.” This law means you may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions. For example, if you are driving 45 mph in a 55 mph speed zone during a dense fog, you could be cited for driving “too fast for conditions.” You may never legally drive faster than the posted speed limit, even if you think it is safe to do so.
Regardless of the posted speed limit, your speed should depend on:
· The number and speed of other vehicles on the road.
· Whether the road surface is smooth, rough, graveled, wet, dry, wide, or narrow.
· Bicyclists or pedestrians walking on the road’s edge.
Whether it is raining, foggy, snowing, windy, or dusty.

 

Why do I get the distinct impression a few are too angry to note posts like this?

 

I let them pass. It's always good to have a lead car for the Highway Patrol to light up on.