Truck Accident News

HOV Lane Violation Study

In an attempt to cope with the traffic congestion caused by the rapid growth of suburban populations and the relative decline in funds and space for additional freeway construction, the Department of Transportation has introduced a number of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes designed to help the freeway network operate more efficiently. Several factors have arisen to frustrate efforts to enforce the traffic laws associated with HOV lanes. These factors include personnel constraints, enforcement priorities, public hostility toward certain preferential treatment projects, confusion over new traffic concepts, and physical limitations imposed by the geometric and engineering features of specific projects. Since the early 1980's the number of mainline HOV projects in California has doubled, as has the freeway mileage devoted to these projects. Illegal use of certain projects has also increased. As more and more HOV projects are introduced in an attempt to improve freeway operations, the available enforcement personnel will be stretched thinner and thinner, and the violation problem is likely to become more acute. This report measures violation patterns and addresses the impact of different engineering designs and enforcement strategies on HOV violation rates.

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	Did You Know?
	A driver can be disqualified for one year for a first time conviction of the following offenses while operating a commercial vehicle. Penalties can include: Driving under the influence of alcohol or any drugs; Driving with an alcohol concentration of .04 or more; Leaving the scene of an accident; Using a commercial vehicle in the commission of a felony; or Refusing to take a blood alcohol test. If convicted of any of the above while operating a vehicle placarded for hazardous materials, the disqualification increases to three years.