Hybrids on HOV Lanes

A subject that keeps popping up in the “Letters to the Editor†section of my newspaper is regarding allowing hybrids on the HOV lanes on I95 in Northern Virginia. I personally support the HOV exemption – especially since it allows me and my carpool buddy to drive on the restricted lanes during the HOV hours.

I got tired of reading the negative letters, so I tried to compose one that would enlighten them. Below is the letter:

For those of you that categorically oppose all hybrids on the HOV lanes, I urge you to learn more about hybrids. Performance and SUV hybrids struggle to get 30 MPG and do not offer the same emissions benefit of the economy hybrids. Those cars get upwards of 60 MPG and emit a fraction of the emissions of a regular vehicle. Emissions from a Toyota Prius is 1/8 of the amount of a comparable sedan so one person in a hybrid is still better than three people in a sedan or SUV.

The argument against allowing hybrids on the HOV lanes mainly contend that the HOV lanes are getting too congested. As a commuter I know for a fact that there is no problem between Dumfries and Springfield in the morning. No doubt, there is a noticeable increase in the afternoon, but never enough to cause traffic jams.

When the HOV lanes do become too crowded, I would suggest that vehicles that have the highest emissions and the lowest MPG be the first to be removed from the “exemption†list. Those vehicles would include:

• Law enforcement vehicles that are not providing traffic and safety control
• Hybrids that get less than 40 MPG
• Motorcycles (an economy hybrid gets better MPG and emits fewer emissions than most motorcycles)
• Economy hybrids

I think it just makes sense to reward the people that are doing things that make the environment a better place for everyone. The folks that complain about hybrids just don’t know the facts. Use your energy to complain about how SUV’s, pleasure pickups and gas guzzling sport cars are causing high gas prices by creating an increased demand for petrol in the first place.