Carpool Lanes (Public Service Announcement)
added by geena on May 14, 2003 at 10:37 AM
This has nothing at all to do with medicine, but I have to ask.
We were in traffic yesterday, and decided to use the carpool lane. It got me to thinking: What makes people NOT use the carpool lane? I see all kinds of one-person cars out there - what makes them not just kind of scoot over a little for a few miles or so?
I rarely see police cars around. When carpool lanes "came out," were there stiff penalties for using the lane alone? Does riding solo in the carpool lane elicit ridicule from other drivers? Being newish to the area awhile back, I was driving in the carpool lane one night by myself during the posted times, and no one seemed to notice or care.
Anyway - not a pressing topic for sure, but one I'm curious about nonetheless. In a society where the road becomes a parking lot for hours every day - why aren't more people tempted to break free and use an almost completely empty lane?
Progress Notes
People get cited for this often enough. It's a $280 fine or something like that. I don't do it because I'd feel extremely self-conscious doing it, and it would bother my conscience besides.
added by K on May 17, 2003 9:49 PM
You're credibility in the "That Honest Girl" department is definitely beginning to crumble... :)
added by petehed on May 19, 2003 2:06 PM
How so? I said that I used the carpool lane right when I was new around here and wasn't paying attention. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I moved over. So there. Nyah. :-)
added by geena on May 26, 2003 7:25 PM
Geena, here in California, it's a hefty fine if you're caught using the carpool lane in a car...by yourself.
There is, fortunately, a special pass you can buy here that allows you to use the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes as a lone driver. The fees are used to help maintain the HOV lanes and to pay the meager salaries of the people who sit in the monitoring stations.
added by Da Goddess on May 28, 2003 10:05 PM
So, what brought you to the hospital today?