HOV Lanes

From the Syndicated Newspaper Column: DriveTime

By M. Pearl
Q: Can a hearse with a corpse as the only passenger use the HOV
Lane? Ricky F.
A: Just like the unborn children of mothers-to-be and our four-legged
fur-covered friends, I'm afraid those that have passed on do not count
as valid passengers when considering legal occupancy for the HOV
(high occupancy vehicle) lane. They do not meet the legislative intent
of getting people to carpool, i.e. fewer vehicles on the freeways, and
when a person is deceased, they fall short of meeting the definition of
a "person" which, according to the vehicle code book, is defined as
only a natural (living) person.
Q: My friends say that you can only enter the diamond lane when there is a broken line,
but you can exit at any time. I always thought that you could only exit when there is a
broken line. Who is right? R. Miranda, Upland
A: Your friends have chosen to believe one of my favorite "urban driving legends." I
listened to a radio talk show once where they debated the issue for better than half an
hour. Let me save you some time; you are absolutely right and your friends are
absolutely wrong. It is illegal to exit or enter a car-pool lane unless the lines are white
and broken.
Q: My husband and I are having a disagreement. When a person is traveling in the carpool lane, and an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind (also in the car-pool
lane) what is the correct procedure to follow? Move to the right even if it means crossing
a solid line, or stay put and let the emergency vehicle move around you? Either way it
seems like a person could be in violation of the law no matter what action they take. We
have polled several of our friends, and no one seems to know the correct thing to do.
Are we darned if we do and darned if we don't? Joan L., Ontario
A: You're only darned if you don't, Joan. Vehicle code 21806 makes it clear - in an
emergency, the emergency vehicle takes precedence. You must yield the right-of-way to
them as soon as it is safe for you to move over, regardless of the lines on the road.

Vehicles formerly allowed to use the HOV lanes with less than the requisite occupants
such as the Prius and Honda (rated 45 MPG) are no longer permitted. The only
vehicles permitted must have white stickers and must be fully electric or use compressed
natural gas. A third type of approved vehicle - plug-in with hybrids
- is allowed after January 1, 2012.

* Please note in carpool lanes Mothers-to-be DON'T count as two people!

Passengers can be ANY age.
Animals DO NOT COUNT as passengers, either.

U-Turns & Bike Lanes

You MAY cross a DOUBLE YELLOW line to make a U-turn, if the turn can be made safely
and legally! If the street has a center left turn lane, begin your U-turn in that lane.

Making a U-turn in a residential district is O.K.:

* If no vehicle approaching you is closer than 200 feet from either direction;
* Whenever a traffic sign or signal protects you from vehicles that are closer than 200
feet.

Making a U- turn in a BUSINESS District is O.K.:

* At ANY INTERSECTION, or a break in a concrete divider.
* Whether or not there is a sign saying you CAN make a U-turn. (Just make sure there is
not a sign or signal that indicates that you can't!)
* Be certain that the turn can be made safely.

Illegal U-Turns
Never make a U-turn on a highway by crossing a curb or strip of land or two
sets of double lines.
You may not make a U-turn:
~ Where you cannot clearly see 200 feet in each direction because of a curve, hill, rain,
fog, or other reason.
~ Where a "NO U-TURN" sign is posted.
~ When vehicles may hit you.
~ On a one-way street.
~ In front of a fire station. Never use a fire station driveway to turn around.
~ In a business district except at intersections or through openings in concrete dividers.

Bicycle Lanes
A solid white line, four or more feet from the curb, along either side of the street shows
a bicycle lane. This line will usually be a broken line near the corner, which simply
indicates to bicyclists that the lane is ending because there is an intersection coming
up. Don't drive in a bike lane unless you are making a right turn at a corner or other
entrance, such as a driveway. Enter the bike lane no more than 200 feet from the
entrance or corner before your turn.
You may park in the bike lane unless signs say "NO PARKING."
Pedestrians are not allowed in bike lanes when there are sidewalks. Drivers of motorized
bicycles (MOPEDS) should use bike lanes carefully to avoid collisions with bicycle riders.

 Lane Use
LANES FOR PASSING
Never drive off the paved or main-traveled portion of the road, or on the shoulder to
pass. You will get a citation for this! When you want to pass a vehicle or bicycle going in
your direction, THE NUMBER ONE RULE IN PASSING IS ALWAYS - PASS ON THE LEFT!
Passing on the RIGHT is DANGEROUS, and is LEGAL ONLY:
* If there is another LEGAL LANE going in your direction.
* If the driver of the other vehicle is making a left turn.
Don't honk when you pass on the right. The other driver may think you are on the left
and "pull over" right into you. If you need to move into another lane, move only after
you have finished making your turn, and when traffic is clear.

LEFT

TURN

CENTER

LANES

On the right is a picture of a LEFT-TURN CENTER LANE. You will find these in the middle
of a two-way street. The lane is marked on both sides by two painted lines - the inner
line is broken, the outer line is solid. When this lane is available, use it to begin or end
left
turns
or
to
start
a
permitted
U-turn.
When turning left from a side street or driveway onto a street with a left turn center
lane, wait until it is safe, and then drive into the left turn center lane. Signal before
moving into regular traffic. Enter traffic only when it is safe. You may drive across a left
turn
center
lane.
If a street has a left turn center lane, you must use it when you turn
left.
To turn left from the street, drive completely inside the center leftturn lane. Don't stop part way into the lane, with the back of your
vehicle blocking traffic. Make sure the lane is clear in both directions
and then turn only when it is safe. Watch out for vehicles coming
head on toward you in the same lane as they start to make their left
turns.
When turning left from a three lane one-way street onto a one-way street, you can turn
from the left lane only.

Special Lanes
In high-density traffic areas, you may sometimes see an entire street or lanes on a
street marked with cones. These cones indicate that a lane or street is being used
differently. For instance, to help relieve congestion at a sporting or cultural event, or
when there is construction, entire streets or a few lanes will be used for traffic going in
the opposite direction from what is "normal" until the traffic congestion is cleared.