HOV Lane Types, Examples and Preferences

[froggie]

$7 in gas just to go back and forth to school?  I suppose it was an older car, but $7 in gas nowadays gets me about 85 miles.

Gets me a bit less, but I also have 14 miles of dirt road and a mountain to cross...

[cl94]

As long as we're on this topic now...

Through USAA, I pay $791/6 months for "full" coverage @ 10k miles a year. Fuck if I know what discounts I have (though I know I have at least a new car discount), but I've been pulled over three times, had a speeding ticket that is no longer on my record, and I've been involved in one collision that was I was found not-at-fault.

So, are you guys saying that I'm getting fucked?

Depends on the kind of car you have. USAA doesn't raise rates for speeding tickets or collisions unless they are major and your fault. Also depends on requirements for the state you're in. Mine is $691/6 months, but I have a relatively high deductible.

State Farm would be why. They're ridiculously expensive. They would be at least 3 times what I'm paying now for worse coverage.

Not sure if I am of any example.. Geico increased my rate last year from ~1100 to ~1250/year. Probably their assumed that after 10 years with them I don't know any better. (tickets all purged, last 5+years ago; deer collision for $7k, 3 years before that - and Geico actually did foot the bill)
I am not sure what they expected, but next day I got 3 quotes, all at least 20% cheaper...

Geico is known for doing that. Either they hike your rates or drop you after your first incident, even if it isn't your fault.

[jeffandnicole]

As long as we're on this topic now...

Through USAA, I pay $791/6 months for "full" coverage @ 10k miles a year. Fuck if I know what discounts I have (though I know I have at least a new car discount), but I've been pulled over three times, had a speeding ticket that is no longer on my record, and I've been involved in one collision that was I was found not-at-fault.

So, are you guys saying that I'm getting fucked?

You would need to provide more details.

Full coverage means that you have collision and comprehensive.  But, you could have the minimum (25k or whatever your state allows), which will provide very little coverage, or you could have a million dollar policy, which is probably more than what most people need.

Because of what other people pay in other states, we're not going to be able to provide a true apples-apples comparison.  If someone in Nebraska says they only pay $400/6 months, that may be a rate simply unattainable in your state.

If you've been pulled over but not ticketed in those instances, don't worry about them.

Feel free to provide the info on the dec page which lists your coverages and limit amounts if you want.

[1995hoo]

State Farm would be why. They're ridiculously expensive. They would be at least 3 times what I'm paying now for worse coverage.

I don't find State Farm to be expensive at all, but then I'm also a bit older than you and vdeane, I'm married (that does affect premiums), and I live in a different part of the country. Even if I might save a bit with GEICO (and it wouldn't be much because my rates are already pretty low), I doubt I'd do it because I've heard lots of negative comments from people about GEICO's service and their tendency to drop people who make claims. Essentially my impression is that the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to car insurance as much as it does to anything else.

Regarding vdeane's comment about the cracked windshield–normally that sort of claim under the comprehensive coverage doesn't affect your premium because from an actuarial standpoint, normally a cracked windshield does not have anything to do with what sort of financial risk the individual represents to the insurance carrier. That is, the fact that a rock flew up on the Interstate and hit your windshield is an "act of God" that can happen to anyone, whereas if you're in an accident because you blew a red light going 75 in a 35-mph zone it's a very different story.

[jeffandnicole]

State Farm would be why. They're ridiculously expensive. They would be at least 3 times what I'm paying now for worse coverage.

I don't find State Farm to be expensive at all, but then I'm also a bit older than you and vdeane, I'm married (that does affect premiums), and I live in a different part of the country. Even if I might save a bit with GEICO (and it wouldn't be much because my rates are already pretty low), I doubt I'd do it because I've heard lots of negative comments from people about GEICO's service and their tendency to drop people who make claims. Essentially my impression is that the old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to car insurance as much as it does to anything else.

Regarding vdeane's comment about the cracked windshield—normally that sort of claim under the comprehensive coverage doesn't affect your premium because from an actuarial standpoint, normally a cracked windshield does not have anything to do with what sort of financial risk the individual represents to the insurance carrier. That is, the fact that a rock flew up on the Interstate and hit your windshield is an "act of God" that can happen to anyone, whereas if you're in an accident because you blew a red light going 75 in a 35-mph zone it's a very different story.

And depending on your windshield, it's probably not worth the effort of contacting the insurance company.  They tend to be very reasonably priced.  I've had to get a few replaced on Honda CRVs and Pilots, and I've paid under $200.  Very low priced, considering they'll come out to you, wherever you have the car parked.

Someone breathes on your bumper, and it's a $700 repair job.

[1995hoo]

Depends on both what the damage is and whether you have a comprehensive deductible (and, if so, how much it is). I think it's still not a terrible idea to call your carrier even if you aren't going to make a claim because they can refer you to glass repair outfits. Some of the conspiracy theorists will say they'll steer you to their preferred vendors. They might, but I've gotten good results with the glass repair places State Farm recommended (they were paying both times and I have no deductible).

[cl94]

If your state allows it, it's never a bad idea to get full glass coverage. Ohio doesn't allow it, but most states do.

[epzik8]

Someone probably mentioned Northern Virginia already, but I want to mention it too.

I-95 in Northern Virginia contains a divided HOV section. I think the reversal of the lanes is based on rush hour. I-95's HOV lanes now extend into Stafford County. They used to end at Dumfries which was my father's parents' old exit. They also go a few miles up I-395 in Alexandria.

I also want to point out that I-95's express toll lanes north of Baltimore are not HOV lanes. The express toll lanes are for E-ZPass users only, whereas HOV lanes are for cars containing a specified minimum amount of occupants - it can be as few as two, but I-95 in NoVA has a minimum of four.

[froggie]

but I-95 in NoVA has a minimum of four three.

FTFY.

[US71]

If your state allows it, it's never a bad idea to get full glass coverage. Ohio doesn't allow it, but most states do.

Let's get back on-topic, please.

[cpzilliacus]

but I-95 in NoVA has a minimum of four three.

FTFY.

For now, I-66 and Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road) remain HOV-2. 

[slorydn1]

$7 in gas just to go back and forth to school?  I suppose it was an older car, but $7 in gas nowadays gets me about 85 miles.

Since model (Ford Granada) was mentioned, I looked up the specs - depending on engine being 4.1 or 5.0 liters, specs range from 21/28 MPG to 15/23 MPG....

1978 4.1L inline-6, 1bbl Carter YFA Carb, and a whopping 97 HP/250 Ft-Lbs of torque. I averaged 14-17 MPG depending on traffic and my right foot. Round trip was approximately 64 miles give or take from my driveway to the parking lot down the street from school and back.

Back then my car expense was limited to just gas and my portion of the insurance surcharge over what the insurance (liability only) would have cost my parents had I not been driving. The Granada was the 3rd car, and my job working weekends as a stock clerk in a grocery store (Dominick's) more than paid for what I had to spend for vehicle expenses in a month. The money I made full time during the summer covered the rest. So even with that, public transportation was cheaper in the long run than driving, but driving was more convenient/shortened my "day" by quite a bit.

I shutter to think what these 2 Mustangs are costing me now every year (I really don't want to know, my wife and I enjoy them too much).

[JKRhodes]

in greater Phoenix, the HOV lane is separated in one of three ways:
Single white line
Double white line
Double white line with Chevrons

The various markings don't mean anything; entry/exit is permitted at any point.

I like the way Utah and California do theirs, it gives some order to the whole mess and gives traffic in other lanes a heads-up of when they can expect HOV traffic to make its way over to the exit.

[cpzilliacus]

in greater Phoenix, the HOV lane is separated in one of three ways:
Single white line
Double white line
Double white line with Chevrons

The various markings don't mean anything; entry/exit is permitted at any point.

I like the way Utah and California do theirs, it gives some order to the whole mess and gives traffic in other lanes a heads-up of when they can expect HOV traffic to make its way over to the exit.

I agree regarding California. 

I dislike the  way that Virginia and Maryland mark concurrent-flow HOV lanes, allowing exit and entry anywhere.  It means that the  HOV lanes work no better than adjacent conventional lanes in places where the conventional lanes are severely congested.

[myosh_tino]

in greater Phoenix, the HOV lane is separated in one of three ways:
Single white line
Double white line
Double white line with Chevrons

The various markings don't mean anything; entry/exit is permitted at any point.

I like the way Utah and California do theirs, it gives some order to the whole mess and gives traffic in other lanes a heads-up of when they can expect HOV traffic to make its way over to the exit.

I agree regarding California. 

I dislike the  way that Virginia and Maryland mark concurrent-flow HOV lanes, allowing exit and entry anywhere.  It means that the  HOV lanes work no better than adjacent conventional lanes in places where the conventional lanes are severely congested.

Just to clarify the above two posts...

* Most southern California HOV lanes have restricted entry/exit points because they operate 24/7/365.

* All northern California HOV lanes are open-access meaning you can enter/exit the HOV lane at any point.  The HOV restriction is only in effect during the morning and evening commutes.  Outside of these times, the lane operates as a general purpose lane.

[JKRhodes]

in greater Phoenix, the HOV lane is separated in one of three ways:
Single white line
Double white line
Double white line with Chevrons

The various markings don't mean anything; entry/exit is permitted at any point.

I like the way Utah and California do theirs, it gives some order to the whole mess and gives traffic in other lanes a heads-up of when they can expect HOV traffic to make its way over to the exit.

I agree regarding California. 

I dislike the  way that Virginia and Maryland mark concurrent-flow HOV lanes, allowing exit and entry anywhere.  It means that the  HOV lanes work no better than adjacent conventional lanes in places where the conventional lanes are severely congested.

Just to clarify the above two posts...

* Most southern California HOV lanes have restricted entry/exit points because they operate 24/7/365.

* All northern California HOV lanes are open-access meaning you can enter/exit the HOV lane at any point.  The HOV restriction is only in effect during the morning and evening commutes.  Outside of these times, the lane operates as a general purpose lane.

Good to know. So Northern California HOV lanes operate the same way as Phoenix.

I believe Utah's are High Occupancy/Toll, with the fee waved for HOV vehicles, and they operate 24/7 as well, at least along the I-15 corridor.

[Ace10]

Good to know. So Northern California HOV lanes operate the same way as Phoenix.

I believe Utah's are High Occupancy/Toll, with the fee waved for HOV vehicles, and they operate 24/7 as well, at least along the I-15 corridor.

Not sure if this has been mentioned upthread, but the HOT lane on WA 167 southeast of Seattle used to have double white lines separating the HOT lane from the general purpose lanes, but this was converted to a single white line which can be legally crossed, unlike a double white. It does make it more convenient for traffic just getting on not having to wait for a lane entrance, and for cars to be able to exit at anytime in advance of an upcoming freeway exit; however, there is a higher chance cars could cross the line at any time, so I'm a bit wary of going too fast if the adjacent lane(s) are slow or stopped.

The HOV lanes on I-405, on the southern section, operate the same way, but the new express toll lanes on the northern section of I-405 are separated by double whites, and in some places, two sets of double whites, and plenty of signs remind motorists that crossing those lines is illegal. I feel a little safer zooming by slow or stopped traffic here, and it's really nice that most, if not all, of the ETL section has two lanes in each direction, so you're never stuck behind one car going slow in the lane, like what can happen in other places with HOV lanes.

I just got back from a trip to southern California a couple weeks ago and got to use the HOV lanes on CA 91 and I-405. It seems to be true in those places that you can only enter and exit the HOV lane at certain points; though I didn't see any white regulatory signs stating such, there were a few small green signs notifying users of the lane that an exit from the HOV lane was coming up, and listed the exit destinations. However, traffic was really heavy in places such that I couldn't exit the lane when I needed to and had to cross the 'painted median', presumably illegally, in order to make my exit. I noticed lots of other drivers not paying attention to the lines and just moving in and out at will.

[1995hoo]

....

I dislike the  way that Virginia and Maryland mark concurrent-flow HOV lanes, allowing exit and entry anywhere.  It means that the  HOV lanes work no better than adjacent conventional lanes in places where the conventional lanes are severely congested.

Even where Virginia doesn't allow exit and entry anywhere, most notably in I-66's left-lane HOV facility as you pass through the Nutley Street and Route 123 interchanges (double white line marking coupled with dinky signs saying not to cross the line), people almost universally ignore the prohibition whenever it suits them to do so. I'm not sure there's a pavement-marking solution that would be effective. Of course on I-66 it doesn't help that those lanes are not HOV lanes at all times, such that restricting movement into or out of them at non-HOV hours doesn't serve much practical purpose.

[cpzilliacus]

....

I dislike the  way that Virginia and Maryland mark concurrent-flow HOV lanes, allowing exit and entry anywhere.  It means that the  HOV lanes work no better than adjacent conventional lanes in places where the conventional lanes are severely congested.

Even where Virginia doesn't allow exit and entry anywhere, most notably in I-66's left-lane HOV facility as you pass through the Nutley Street and Route 123 interchanges (double white line marking coupled with dinky signs saying not to cross the line), people almost universally ignore the prohibition whenever it suits them to do so. I'm not sure there's a pavement-marking solution that would be effective. Of course on I-66 it doesn't help that those lanes are not HOV lanes at all times, such that restricting movement into or out of them at non-HOV hours doesn't serve much practical purpose.

The double white solid lines on I-66 west of I-495 do seem to be ignored, during HOV-restricted times and at all other times as well.  At least in the Commonwealth, doing that can get a driver a summons if it is observed by the VSP.

I-270 southbound approaching the "lane divide" in North Bethesda at I-270 and I-270Y (I-270 Spur) has had solid double white lines since the HOV lane was opened, also mostly ignored. 

U.S. 50 ("secret" I-595) in Prince George's County between I-95/I-495 and U.S. 301/MD-3 has the only 24/7 HOV lanes in Maryland and in the Washington area.  There's one section between the underpass at (unmarked) Enterprise Road and the Church Road overpass (near Freeway Airport) that has double white lines both ways.  I think that is a remnant of what was to be an HOV/Toll lane project that got shut-down late in the process by Gov. Landslide (not!) Parris Nelson Glendening, and so the lane has always operated as HOV-2.

Unfortunately crossing the double white lines in Maryland does not seem to be enforced at least as it relates to HOV lanes (the I-95 and I-895 tunnels in Baltimore are a different story, and the MDTA Police will gladly stop and cite drivers that they catch changing lanes in one of the tubes).