A high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV lane) is designed to increase the passenger throughput of a highway by incentivizing carpooling and transit use. Single-occupant vehicles are legally barred from using the lane during restricted hours, often facing heavy fines for violations. Traffic engineers typically separate these lanes from general traffic with solid white lines, pylons, or concrete barriers.
Heard on the job
Traffic was backed up for miles, but the bus breezed past it all in the high-occupancy vehicle lane.
Insider tip
HOV lanes are often marked with large painted diamonds on the asphalt, leading to the common nickname diamond lane.
Also heard as
- carpool lane
- diamond lane