Backlash against hybrids
Enchanter, Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 852
From: Seattle, Washington
Re: Backlash against hybrids
I came across the Washington State HOV Q&A Web Page (http://wsdot.wa.gov/HOV/guide.htm). Some notable quotes relevant to the topic:
Are HOV lanes fast lanes?
HOV lanes are not fast lanes or passing lanes. The posted speed limits apply to all lanes of traffic, including HOV lanes. Despite this fact, aggressive drivers sometimes speed and tailgate in HOV lanes. Aggressive drivers are dangerous and the Washington State Patrol advises that it's often safest to move aside and let these drivers pass. Drivers who speed, tailgate or exhibit other aggressive driving behaviors risk a traffic citation and accompanying fines and auto insurance rate increases.
Why are parents with kids younger than driving age allowed to use HOV lanes?
HOV lanes have simple objectives: to maximize the number of people that can be carried on the highway and to provide a reliable trip to as many people as possible. Developing and enforcing a more complicated definition of who is eligible to use HOV lanes would be difficult to explain and enforce and would reduce the number of people who benefit from the reliability that HOV lanes offer. Allowing adults with children to use the lanes enhances enforcement, simplicity, and efficiency.
Can single drivers in fuel-efficient vehicles or hybrids travel in the HOV lane?
No. Fuel-efficient and clean-fuel vehicles reduce the amount of pollutants in the environment and improve the air we breathe. These vehicles do not, however, contribute to reducing traffic congestion when they are operated with only a single occupant. The main purpose of the HOV system is to move people, not vehicles. As a single-occupant vehicle, fuel-efficient cars do not increase the number of people moved on a freeway HOV lane.
The state of California recently made a change to their HOV policy to allow electric cars, or gas/electric hybrids to use HOV lanes with only one person in the vehicle. They instituted this change because of severe air quality conditions and an existing state environmental law requiring that a certain percentage of all vehicles sold in California be low emission vehicles. Allowing electric vehicles in the HOV lane gives citizens and carmakers incentive to buy/produce vehicles. Air quality in Washington urban areas has not reached a level to warrant implementing similar laws allowing electric vehicles use of HOV lanes.
HOV lanes are not fast lanes or passing lanes. The posted speed limits apply to all lanes of traffic, including HOV lanes. Despite this fact, aggressive drivers sometimes speed and tailgate in HOV lanes. Aggressive drivers are dangerous and the Washington State Patrol advises that it's often safest to move aside and let these drivers pass. Drivers who speed, tailgate or exhibit other aggressive driving behaviors risk a traffic citation and accompanying fines and auto insurance rate increases.
Why are parents with kids younger than driving age allowed to use HOV lanes?
HOV lanes have simple objectives: to maximize the number of people that can be carried on the highway and to provide a reliable trip to as many people as possible. Developing and enforcing a more complicated definition of who is eligible to use HOV lanes would be difficult to explain and enforce and would reduce the number of people who benefit from the reliability that HOV lanes offer. Allowing adults with children to use the lanes enhances enforcement, simplicity, and efficiency.
Can single drivers in fuel-efficient vehicles or hybrids travel in the HOV lane?
No. Fuel-efficient and clean-fuel vehicles reduce the amount of pollutants in the environment and improve the air we breathe. These vehicles do not, however, contribute to reducing traffic congestion when they are operated with only a single occupant. The main purpose of the HOV system is to move people, not vehicles. As a single-occupant vehicle, fuel-efficient cars do not increase the number of people moved on a freeway HOV lane.
The state of California recently made a change to their HOV policy to allow electric cars, or gas/electric hybrids to use HOV lanes with only one person in the vehicle. They instituted this change because of severe air quality conditions and an existing state environmental law requiring that a certain percentage of all vehicles sold in California be low emission vehicles. Allowing electric vehicles in the HOV lane gives citizens and carmakers incentive to buy/produce vehicles. Air quality in Washington urban areas has not reached a level to warrant implementing similar laws allowing electric vehicles use of HOV lanes.
Java Geek
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 32
Re: Backlash against hybrids
I'm more annoyed with non-hybrid drivers tailgating me at 65mph in the right-most lane of a 3-lane highway and flipping me off as they pass me going 70 uphill 
Of course, I do live in Connecticut.. nobody here drives below 70 (except for me and the grannnies).
Of course, I do live in Connecticut.. nobody here drives below 70 (except for me and the grannnies).
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 441
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by kasia
I'm more annoyed with non-hybrid drivers tailgating me at 65mph in the right-most lane of a 3-lane highway and flipping me off as they pass me going 70 uphill
Of course, I do live in Connecticut.. nobody here drives below 70 (except for me and the grannnies).
Of course, I do live in Connecticut.. nobody here drives below 70 (except for me and the grannnies).
CT drivers are ridiculously aggressive, and this is coming from someone who learned to drive in MA. There is no doubt in my mind that hybrid drivers get targeted above the rest. For example, I was a mile into yesterday's morning commute on a 40mph road when I saw a Prius in the oncoming lane. I thought it was the only car there until I got close enough to see some idiot in a midsize sedan PLASTERED to the Prius' bumper. There might have been six inches of clearance there. This guy wasn't driving well below the limit, but probably 40 or 45mph. There was absolutely no justification for it.
This has happened to me a couple of times, but not like that! The reason? Probably my "sporty" black coupe w/factory spoiler on the trunk. I've been driving at or under the speed limit (only under when there's no traffic or traffic can pass) for the last month or so and most people just pass without even a glance in my direction. One non-thinker gave me the horn and lights show at the speed limit because I hadn't floored it from the light. After the appropriate exchange of hand signals (have since learned to resist that urge) he crossed the double yellow and flew off to the next red light.
I don't know how you guys deal with the extra abuse.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,155
From: Lewisville (Dallas), Texas
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by brick
...I don't know how you guys deal with the extra abuse.
The root problem on the highways is driving is not regarded as effectively going from point A to point B - it's personal. Personal as in what I'm driving, finishing first, etc.
Enchanter, Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 852
From: Seattle, Washington
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Recently I had a guy tailgate me, blast around me on a 2-lane road, and at the next light, actually shook his fist at me.
I was moving exactly along with traffic with about a 4 car length distance between me and the person ahead of me. Traffic was dense but moving - the line of cars was solid be we were all moving at the same speed. I followed this individual for 10 - yes 10 - more miles until the road widened to 4 lanes. He didn't even take off. I followed him for another 5 miles to the highway.
He had no reason to be angry with me except I was driving a hybrid.
It's a personal struggle of mine not to react to those folks. I don't visibly react any more, but I stew about it more than I should. Work in progress. My HCH has taught me a lot about patience and the virtues of letting stuff like that go. My only conclusion (just my off-topic opinion here) is this: Living life that angry is no way for me to live. I have better things to do with my mental well-being than expend myself returning hostile act for hostile act on my morning commute. I don't want that baggage when I walk into work, or back to home with my family. There are folks in a hurry, and folks who go out of their way to let you have it. Those folks have deeper problems than a hybrid driving the limit in front of them. We're just convenient targets. When it happens to me, I try to focus on the fact they probably have much bigger problems in their life and let it go.
I was moving exactly along with traffic with about a 4 car length distance between me and the person ahead of me. Traffic was dense but moving - the line of cars was solid be we were all moving at the same speed. I followed this individual for 10 - yes 10 - more miles until the road widened to 4 lanes. He didn't even take off. I followed him for another 5 miles to the highway.
He had no reason to be angry with me except I was driving a hybrid.
It's a personal struggle of mine not to react to those folks. I don't visibly react any more, but I stew about it more than I should. Work in progress. My HCH has taught me a lot about patience and the virtues of letting stuff like that go. My only conclusion (just my off-topic opinion here) is this: Living life that angry is no way for me to live. I have better things to do with my mental well-being than expend myself returning hostile act for hostile act on my morning commute. I don't want that baggage when I walk into work, or back to home with my family. There are folks in a hurry, and folks who go out of their way to let you have it. Those folks have deeper problems than a hybrid driving the limit in front of them. We're just convenient targets. When it happens to me, I try to focus on the fact they probably have much bigger problems in their life and let it go.
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 335
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by Tim
When it happens to me, I try to focus on the fact they probably have much bigger problems in their life and let it go.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
From: neither here, nor there...
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by everybody that says:
It's okay for vehicles to travel in the HOV lane a lot slower than the posted speed limit.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 955
From: Chicago area
Re: Backlash against hybrids
I agree with Tim. People who get that angry about this kind of stuff have other problems going on in their lives that are not related to us and do not really involve anything to do with hybrids. Road rage has been around for a lot longer than hybrid cars- picture people with donkey carts crowding by one another on muddy one-lane roads, cursing up a storm and shaking their fists. Oh yeah, it happened, and it still happens- whatever the transportation. Bikes, boats...- there's always someone in a hurry trying to get around you, wherever you are and whatever you're driving/riding.
As for bar10dah's can of worms, I think he's a little off: it's not that it's illegal to drive 'slower than the posted speed limit.' When they post a speed LIMIT, then it's illegal to go faster than that LIMIT. That's what it means.
But. On twisty mountain roads with switchbacks, like in California and the Rocky Mountain area, there will often be posted minimums and signs indicating the type of restrictions he's referring to; if X number of cars build up behind you, then you need to stop at the next available spot and let them by. Sometimes on those narrow roads the pullovers are few and far between, and it's often tough to figure out how many people are behind you, but we'll usually pull over whenever we get the chance so that anyone behind can pass. It's especially helpful if you're in a stationwagon or something that doesn't turn as easily, a heavier car, because smaller or lighter cars often deal with turns and mountains better, and it just makes sense to get out of the way. I think that's a special case and (unless you live there) not part of the everyday driving or commute that most of us are talking about on this thread. JMO.
As for bar10dah's can of worms, I think he's a little off: it's not that it's illegal to drive 'slower than the posted speed limit.' When they post a speed LIMIT, then it's illegal to go faster than that LIMIT. That's what it means.
But. On twisty mountain roads with switchbacks, like in California and the Rocky Mountain area, there will often be posted minimums and signs indicating the type of restrictions he's referring to; if X number of cars build up behind you, then you need to stop at the next available spot and let them by. Sometimes on those narrow roads the pullovers are few and far between, and it's often tough to figure out how many people are behind you, but we'll usually pull over whenever we get the chance so that anyone behind can pass. It's especially helpful if you're in a stationwagon or something that doesn't turn as easily, a heavier car, because smaller or lighter cars often deal with turns and mountains better, and it just makes sense to get out of the way. I think that's a special case and (unless you live there) not part of the everyday driving or commute that most of us are talking about on this thread. JMO.
Prof. of Hybridology
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,070
From: Michigan
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Honestly, it doesn't bother me. If they really keep at it, it's amusing in most cases. They really are so small that all they can focus on is trying to race up to a stop?
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 297
From: NYC
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by Pravus Prime
Honestly, it doesn't bother me. If they really keep at it, it's amusing in most cases.
Personally, I want a trunk-mounted brick launcher.
