The secondary, unwritten, rule of the HOV lane is that it is a "reward" for those who car pool so that during heavy traffic they can travel "faster" than the congested lanes to their right.
Brian King's comments about the HOV lane not being a passing lane are both correct and incorrect ("Passing lane confusion," Readers' Forum Oct. 23). Brian is correct in saying that it is not a passing lane as described by the Utah Vehicle Code.
However, the HOV lane was developed as an incentive to get people to car pool; thus, only vehicles with two or more people are allowed to drive in the HOV lane. The secondary, unwritten, rule of the HOV lane is that it is a "reward" for those who car pool so that during heavy traffic they can travel "faster" than the congested lanes to their right.
In that circumstance, Brian is incorrect as the HOV lane is indeed a passing lane allowing car pool drivers to "pass" slower moving congested traffic. That being said, those who choose to drive in the HOV lane at the same speed or slower than the traffic to their right are violating the spirit of the HOV lane, and the law, by failing to allow other traffic in the HOV lane to pass slower traffic.
To those who feel it is their civic duty to drive exactly 65 mph in the HOV or other lanes, if you are not an on-duty uniformed Highway Patrol Trooper, it is not your responsibility to make traffic drive the speed limit.
Brad Merritt
Woodland Hills