California Gives Hybrids Carpool Lane Access

Lawmakers in California's capitol, Sacramento, have decided to allow up to 75,000 hybrid cars in HOV or carpool lanes without the usual requirement of having a passenger. The proposal is set to go before Governor Schwarzenegger, and he is expected to sign it into law.

The catch is that not all hybrids will be allowed single occupant entry into California's carpool lanes. The proposal states a minimum efficiency requirement of 45 miles per gallon, inducting the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, and Honda Insight. Reportedly, Ford is not excited about this requirement, as their hybrid Escape model does not make the cut.

It was the aim of lawmakers to reward efficiency, not technology. This makes perfect sense and was discussed in the passenger mile theory, which would exclude extra low efficiency vehicles from carpool lanes without enough passengers to meet efficiency qualifications.

Can Prius owners used the carpool lanes eventhough it is not a federal law?

Thanks.

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