HOV Lane Diamond sign

What to do

Use the lane only if your vehicle meets the posted occupancy requirement and times.

Use the diamond lane only if your vehicle meets the posted occupancy and hours, and enter or leave it only where the lines allow.

Where it's used

Section 3E.03 requires an HOV lane to be marked with white lines forming a diamond symbol, or the words HOV; the diamond must be at least 2.5 feet wide and 12 feet long with lines at least 6 inches wide. Other preferential lanes use word markings such as EXPRESS, BUS ONLY, TAXI ONLY or an electronic toll account name. Regulatory signs show the occupancy requirement and hours, and wide or double white lines show where entry and exit are discouraged or prohibited.

Don't confuse it with

• Lane-Use Arrow Markings: Lane-use arrows show which turns a lane allows, while the diamond shows who may use the lane.
• Double Solid White Line: Double solid white lines often border an HOV lane to show you may not cross into or out of it there.
• Shared-Lane Marking (sharrow): The sharrow shows where cyclists ride in a shared lane, not a lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles.