GOT MY HOV STICKERS in NY

I hate it but I don't think the driver is an idiot because the speed limit is 55 mph. As a courtesy, he/she should drive faster though. I might say the driver is being rude by blocking everyone behind.

I agree that the HOV lane need more passing lane like the one at exit/entrance #44(?) east bound.

 

During my carpooling / HOV days, it was usually a Community Transit or Metro bus, which has priority in the HOV lanes.

When the main line was open and flowing, we just popped over and went around, there were no no-crossing zones at that time. When the main line was congested, we were happy to going 55 instead of 30.

 

Any vehicle obeying the law is not an inconvenience, just a rarity. I can wait behind a safe driver anytime. I prefer sharing the road with Non-Aggressive Drivers who realize that the roads are places where many die needlessly from high speeds, and poor attitudes. A safe driver never keeps you from getting home alive. Highways are meant for everyone, young and old, new drivers and very experienced drivers. The roads are not raceways, or places for competition. Anyone using them that way should be de-Licensed and re-trained for a year minimum. If they kill anyone in an accident they should be sentenced to Hard Time. Safe highways is everyones responsibility. You being late is not a valid excuse for driving dangerously and risking the lives of other people. I believe our major highways should be monitored by cameras and drones, and drivers ticketed for all aggressive behavior.

 

There are two types of aggressive drivers; Active and Passive aggressive.

Active aggressive is the well known; speeders and tailgaters.

Passive aggressive is not that well known. They are those righteous, obey the speed limit and intentional block the road with those who disagree. Driving 55 mph on the left lane (and refusing to move even right lanes are clear) is an example.

Both types are aggressive drivers and they cause accidents. Passive aggressive driver usually tick off the Active aggressive types. They can even tick of normal drivers. I think Passive aggressive types are more dangerous.

 

By your description, everyone driving in the HOV lane is an aggressive driver.

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"The HOV lane is a separate facility from the rest of the freeway and is not the "fast lane." --WSDOT HOV FAQ

 

How can it apply when there is only one lane in the HOV lane? The speed limit is 55 mph and the cop let you slip by if you do under 70 mph. Any speed between is good.

I hate it when the HOV lane is going slower than the regular lane.

 

Our HOV lanes are legally separate, exempt from the 'slow traffic keep right' law, but are not physically separate, except in a few locations around obstacles or where special lane change hazards exist.

As for HOV lanes going slower, tough. The transit bus drivers have a speed limit enforced by their employers, and I've seen no bullies with gonads big enough to demand buses get out of the way. When an HOV lane was extended to my commute route, it took about six weeks to train the speeders that it wasn't an extra 'fast' lane. I'm not sure if it was a critical mass of us carpoolers barely over speed limit, or the transit buses just under speed limit, that did the trick. Other HOV sections have their own culture.

As for 70 mph being a good speed -- I've spent most of my life living next to what many others label as 'speed traps'.

 

I have had occasion over the years to drive I-5 between Tacoma and Seattle at all times of the day. Unlike New York drivers, the Washington State drivers all maintained speeds very close to the limit, and lane changing was minimal because it afforded little advantage.

On Long Island by comparison, drivers 'weave' through traffic because they can, cars travel at speeds well above the limit, right up to 90 - 100 when they can, and cars change lanes so often you'd imagine it was illegal to stay in the same lane for more than a minute. The HOV barrier is constantly being crossed, despite it being illegal, and very few of these unsafe drivers ever get stopped by a cop.

In my experience Washington State drivers are far more respectful on average than New York drivers, and I would guess they have a lower incidence of crashes than N.Y. I was once pulled over in Fife, WA for doing 40 in a 35. I told the cop he was undoubtedly correct, but being from New York the thought to even check the speedometer at such speeds never entered my mind. In NY you'd never get pulled over for such a speed variation, They wouldn't look twice unless you were doing 55 or 60 in a 35. The cop laughed and let me go with a warning.

 

I wouldn't characterize this stretch as among the better behaved sections of road. But then I really shouldn't compare 21st century weekend traffic on one section of road to 20th century weekday reverse commute traffic on the opposite side of town. Traffic behavior has changed over the time.

I really liked a newspaper column during the 1990s, by a writer transplanted from LA, who couldn't adjust and had to move back. While weather was her number one problem, driving was number two. She was completely unable to leave her LA driving style behind and adjust to Seattle style. Her monthly traffic tickets were leading to intolerable insurance hikes.

The non-aggression here is only relative to certain (OK, numerous) other large urban areas. There are others that make us seem nasty.

 

Good point. Passive aggressives are worse than those who drive a little fast. Driving fast, as I do, does not mean driving unsafely. People should be sensitive to the traffic flow. If most cars are going 70 in a 55 zone, you should go 70, not 55. Going 55 impedes traffic flow and causes lane changes which could be dangerous. Truth is, on a road like the LIE, 85 or 90 is perfectly safe for a good driver.

Now I'm off to buy my new red model iv Prius with sunroof. A nice day to get a new car.

 

You have to look at it from another angle too. 55 mph is the maximum speed limit and minimum limit is 40 mph. It is perfectly legal for someone to drive 40 mph!

If you are doing 85 or 90 mph, you are definately causing unsafe environment for others to change lanes, ect.

I think the speed difference between lanes should not differ greatly. For example, R lane is 40mph, M lane is 55mph and L lane is 70mph should be ok.

IMHO, It is wrong to drive 40mph in the L lane as much as 70mph in the R lane. I also believe if you want to drive fast, learn to go around those passive aggressive, unskillful, or clueless drivers. It may even be the case with their car feel unsafe at 70mph (alignment issue).

However, in the HOV lane I prefer 65 or 70mph. On days with light traffic and I have plenty of time, I just the regular lane and go slower.

 

I will drive in the HOV at the same speed or higher than the lane to the right but not slower.

 

Although I live in Nassau County and frequently use the HOV lanes on the Long Island Expressway, I make frequent trips to Staten Island on the Staten Island Expressway.
I can't understand why the same rules allowing vehicles with Clean Pass stickers to drive in the HOV lanes of the Long Island Expressway with only one passenger don't also apply to the Staten Island Expressway (and other highways with HOV lanes throughout New York State).

I was thinking of contacting the appropriate state officials (State Senators and Assembly Members) who might be in a position to change the rules allowing cars with Clean Pass stickers to drive in the HOV lanes of other highways in the state, including the Staten Island Expressway.

Is anybody interested in helping me in my quest to expand the Clean Pass Program to highways outside of Long Island?

 

Well, the HOV barrier is just paint, not a brick wall. If someone is boxing me out doing 55, I'll take the opportunity to pass him in the "regular" lanes.

But usually, the HOV is going way faster than the traffic beside you, so this is rarely an option. But you dont have to break physical reality in order to get around him. The chances that a cop will see that within the few seconds youre passing has got to be like .001%, and the chances that he'll care is even less.

 

Here's a copy of an email which I just sent to the AAA, the NYS DOT, and some local politicians, both here in Long Island and in Staten Island :

--------------------------------------------------

From: Bababooey
To: [email protected]
CC: [email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]

Date: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Subject: Expanding the New York State Clean Pass Program

Dear Mr. McBride,

In addition to being a member of AAA New York, I am also a Prius owner who takes advantage of New York State's Clean Pass Program, which allows eligible hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to travel in the HOV lanes of the Long Island Expressway with only one passenger.

I came across your name while reading the February 25, 2010 minutes of the New York State Department of Transportation Managed Use Lanes (MUL) Study Project Review Committee Meeting. At that meeting, Will Calves of AECOM Transportation stated that he believes that the Clean Pass Program should be expanded to permit single occupant hybrid and other energy efficient vehicles to use the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in New York City.

I would like to express my complete support of Mr. Calves' position, and I hope that the AAA shares this support. I frequently travel to Staten Island to visit my elderly mother, and I am frustrated that I am unable to drive in the HOV lanes of the Staten Island Expressway despite the fact that I drive an eligible hybrid vehicle which is enrolled in the Clean Pass program. I believe that New York's Clean Pass Program should be expanded to include all of the highways and parkways in the state which utilize high occupancy vehicle lanes.

Sincerely,
Bababooey

cc: Peter King - New York State Department of Transportation - Region 11
Kemp Hannon - New York State Senate - 6th District
David G. McDonough - New York State Assembly - 19th District
Matthew Titone - New York State Assembly - 61st District
Lou Tobacco - New York State Assembly - 62nd District
Michael Cusick - New York State Assembly - 63rd District
Diane J. Savino - New York State Senate - 23rd District
Andrew J. Lanza - New York State Senate - 24th District

 

The law is boxing you in at 55 MPH. I know the cops let you go up to 70 MPH but the MAXIMUM speed limit is 55 MPH if you read the sign. Having said that, I normally drive between 65 and 70 MPH. I can not stand those driving 55 MPH.

I have seen a car (2nd car in front of me) driving 55 MPH in the HOV lane. The car in front of me was tailgating him for a good 15 minutes. A mile before reaching the end of HOV lane, he decided go over the solid line to pass him in the regular lane. He got pulled over because he broke the law. The guy driving 55 MPH was driving at legal limit.

It is frustrating but you gotta remind yourself and properly set your expectation of your speed and the arrival time of destination.

 

The HOV 'Barrier' is not a 'Suggestion', hence the term BARRIER !

So You break the law depending upon whether that is or is not inconvenient For YOU, because this is ONLY About YOU. The unsafe actions of YOU crossing a 'Barrier' the three lanes of drivers to your right never expect you to cross, and the lives YOU put at risk because YOU 'Object' to doing the maximum Speed Limit while in the HOV Lane obviously mean nothing to you. Hopefully you will only IMPACT cars driven by other people just as unsafe as you are, your fellow like minded law breakers who consider only themselves and their convenience.

 

NJ Turnpike let us drive in the HOV lane without sticker. The HOV lane is only a few exit. hahaha.

 

Thanks Bababooey
I just copied your E-mail and mailed it to my local folks as well. Tell Howard I say hi. Ryan.