Frequently Asked HOV Questions (US DOT, Federal Highway Administration)

#13. Do children and infants count as passengers?

Yes. All states with HOV facilities count children and infants as passengers.

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/faq.htm#faq13

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok wow. I’m the (entitled/ asshole) OP and back for the first time in a couple hours. Didn’t mean to create a firestorm.

It's called "cause and effect" OP ... like, "if I drive in the HOV lane with two impossible-to-see babies, will I possibly be pulled over by an officer doing his job?

Anonymous wrote:
But the point of HOV should be to get people through a congested corridor who have to get through that corridor.

People who work downtown at prescribed hours (which is a lot of people) need to be moved downtown in as efficient a manner as possible and many don't have alternatives.

Your kids on the other hand almost certainly have alternatives. And as a parent I think my kids would be better off spending as little time strapped in the car as possible and most of the kids I see on the road these days are staring at screens but perhaps you are having in depth discussions which will enable them to buy a house closer in when they settle down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

So “we” are against putting kids into daycare that are closer to our workplaces so a parent can spend time with them in the car? As someone who commutes with children downtown to put them in daycare at my agency I don’t understand your logic. Why I enroll my kids in DC (which is helping the DC economy/ provide jobs) instead of in VA should be of no consequence to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

OK fair point.

How about "HOV lanes are designed to move the most people possible through a corridor during peak demand times" instead?

But seriously HOV lanes are pretty commonly used now in congested areas, all of which in the US are in places with elected officials. And I don't think there is really much argument about what the intent of HOV lanes are though there may be some debate around the edges on an issue like this.

I do not understand why you are being so dense. If HOV lanes are designed to get the most people possible through a corridor during peak demand times then they can maximize their benefit by offering it not just to carpoolers but also people who are on the road for extra long times because they make multiple stops (like parents), people who are willing to pay an arm or a leg, people who can be dangerous when driving through extreme traffic (motorcycles), emergency vehicles and things like buses.

So under your definition of what the HOV should do, allowing people to shepard children through is completely in line.

What you want is "HOVE lanes are designed to reward those who carpool and reduce the number of cars on the road during peak demand times." That is not currently the case, if you'd like that to be what the rules are then, as other posters have suggested, GTFO and run for office instead of accusing people who follow the law of 'cheating'.

Anonymous wrote:Ok wow. I’m the (entitled/ asshole) OP and back for the first time in a couple hours. Didn’t mean to create a firestorm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

OK fair point.

How about "HOV lanes are designed to move the most people possible through a corridor during peak demand times" instead?

But seriously HOV lanes are pretty commonly used now in congested areas, all of which in the US are in places with elected officials. And I don't think there is really much argument about what the intent of HOV lanes are though there may be some debate around the edges on an issue like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you and the cop are both right. Technically (and legally) speaking, there is not prohibit you from counting your kids as "occupants" of your vehicle. However, the "spirit of HOV" law (as cop told you) is to lessen the number of drivers on the road.

Jesus. For the millionth time. Letting parents get their kids dropped off quickly DOES lesson drivers on the road. A parent who would be on the road for 2 hours being on the road for 1 hour or even 90 minutes reduces congestion.

Jesus x 2. you stupid or something? having more cars on the HOV will make HOV traffic slow and, therefore, make things worse for everyone. think before you speak stupid.

Parents have always used the HOV. They are factored into HOV calculations. If they intended parents to not use the HOV they would specify that children in carseats don't count.

1. That doesn't make it right.

2. Sometimes you have to use your common sense. Not everything in life comes with written instruction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

OK fair point.

How about "HOV lanes are designed to move the most people possible through a corridor during peak demand times" instead?

But seriously HOV lanes are pretty commonly used now in congested areas, all of which in the US are in places with elected officials. And I don't think there is really much argument about what the intent of HOV lanes are though there may be some debate around the edges on an issue like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Fair enough but part of that shouldn't be rewarding their choice with a faster commute on lanes that would be better used by people who have to commute through a corridor. Jobs are concentrated in dense areas - schools tend to be concentrated in neighborhoods. I hadn't thought of this before but I bet there are parents putting their kids in downtown daycares to take advantage of HOV rules - if so I do think that undermines the purpose of the lanes and is a legal form of cheating.

I heard some families are having extra kids just so they can use the HOV lanes!

Anonymous wrote:He couldn't see your children, so he pulled you over. He wasn't trained well, so he didn't know how to respond to you, which is why he made an ass of himself. He was also putting himself at risk, no matter what anyone else thinks. There has already been one LEO struck and killed this year during a vehicle stop. Unless you want to be lumped together with everyone else, do not lump all law enforcement officers together. There are many, many good officers in this country, they are not all racist, they are not all assholes, and you would be surprised to find how many of them are very kind and compassionate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.

How do you think you can speak for everyone? There are people on this thread who want different things than you do. Sounds to me like you need to run for office!

Anonymous wrote:
No it really isn't a net good to society and is only a good to the parent - the point is to move people through a corridor more efficiently who need to get through the corridor. People going to work in cars with multiple people we want to move through the corridor as efficiently as possible to reward them for being more efficient. We don't want to give scarce space in the HOV lanes to people whose kids are electively enrolled in downtown daycare. We don't want to give the space to people who could travel at another time of day - we want incentives to reward the people who most need to be on the road at a particular time who are making smart choices. I fail to see why parents who elect to enroll their kids in school far from home should benefit from this system.