HOV Lane - Meaning

What does a white diamond symbol on the pavement mean?

A lane marked with a white diamond symbol on the pavement is a High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, often referred to as a “carpool lane” or “diamond lane”.
Carpool lanes are typically located on the left lane of congested urban and suburban roadways. They may be simply indicated by white lines, or separated from regular lanes by barriers, medians, rumble strips, or buffer zones.

What is an HOV lane?

An HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicle) lane is a special lane reserved for vehicles carrying two or more occupants, like carpool vehicles, vanpools, and buses. The main purpose of HOV lanes is to promote carpooling and reduce traffic congestion in urban areas.

HOV lanes are easily identified by a white diamond symbol in the center of the lane, along with “Restricted Lane” signs and electronic message boards.
These display important information, including the required number of occupants (e.g., “2+” or “3+” for two or more people), the hours during which HOV restrictions apply, and details about designated entry and exit points.

In many cases, the restrictions apply only during peak hours on weekdays (e.g., 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), while the lanes may be open to all vehicles at other times. However, some carpool lanes have restrictions in place 24/7.

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HOV Lane - What To Do

Only vehicles that meet the occupancy requirement are allowed to use a lane marked with the HOV symbol when restrictions are in place.

If you plan to use an HOV lane, you should:

• keep an eye out for “Restricted Lane Ahead” and HOV signs that indicate where the lane begins
• merge into the HOV lane at the designated entrance when it’s safe to do so
• be aware that exits from HOV lanes may be limited, so it’s wise to plan your exit in advance

When driving in concurrent-flow carpool lanes that are not physically separated from general lanes, avoid weaving in and out of the lane.