Q: A.J. Grantham of Pasadena said he and his wife frequently drive together in carpool lanes when traveling on freeways. When in the carpool lane, they drive 65 mph.
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“It has long been my understanding that the maximum speed in the carpool lane is the same as is posted for all lanes,” Grantham said. “However, frequently cars come up behind me and honk or flash headlights wanting to pass. When possible, I get out of the way but that is not always possible. Legally, is there no speed limit in the carpool lane or is there one above the posted speeds?” he asked.
A: Driving in the carpool, or high-occupancy vehicle lane does not give a driver in California legal permission to exceed the speed limit or be an overly aggressive driver. There’s no higher speed limit for carpool lanes and there certainly is a speed limit. Drivers in carpool lanes must obey the same speed limits as those in regular lanes. If the posted speed limit is 65 mph, then that’s the maximum speed allowed; if the speed limit is posted at 70 mph, then that’s the maximum speed allowed. The reduced congestion in carpool lanes is meant to improve traffic efficiency on the freeway, not to create a higher speed zone.
Drivers who come right up to your bumper to pressure you to go faster while in the carpool lane (or in any lane for that matter) are being impatient and aggressive. They also are tailgating, which is dangerous and illegal. The safest way to handle this is to exit the carpool lane when there is an opening and let them go ahead, then reenter the carpool lane when there is an opening. Your safety is a priority and “road rage” is a real thing that’s best to avoid.
Repaving needs
Q: Carolyn Michaelis-Moe lives in an area of San Bernardino bordering on Highland with Arden Avenue as the dividing line, she is concerned about the condition of roads in the area.
We “apparently have mixed jurisdictions on Date Street between Sterling and Arden avenues. The north half of Date Street was paved and repaired. The south half, toward the 210, is a disaster. Potholes as deep as wheel wells during the rainy season, and in 23 years of living here, there has never been any work done on it other than shoveling a pile of asphalt into the holes and hoping enough cars run over it to pack it in. How can we get the south side of Date Street repaved?”
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A: Road maintenance in the Del Rosa area is shared between San Bernardino County and the city of San Bernardino, including portions of Date Street.
“Our Public Works Operations team reviewed the county-maintained portion identified in the inquiry and found a couple of potholes that crews will patch,” said Amy Ledbetter, communications officer for the San Bernardino County Public Works Department.
Ledbetter said the county and city are partnering on a larger road improvement project planned for this neighborhood.
“The Holly Vista Boulevard and other roads project includes improvements to many streets between Date Street and Marshall Boulevard and between Sterling and Victoria avenues, along with several nearby streets,” she said, and San Bernardino County is the project’s lead agency. The partnership allows the county and city to coordinate improvements, including where county- and city-maintained roads connect.
Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write [email protected] or call 951-368-9995. Note that we may use material from letters or phone calls in future columns.
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