Carpool lanes on the right (law, legally, pool)

[Scarce Fowl]

I recently moved to the area and my commute takes me along San Tomas, which has carpool lanes on the right side of the road. I was just wondering if anyone knows what the rules are when you need to make a right turn during carpool hours? At what point are you allowed to get into the carpool lane to make the turn? Is there a difference between the letter of the law and the common practice of drivers?

[nagleepark]

You can make a right turn. So, you should feel free to do that. You should also feel free to do it safely and not dodge into the car pool lane at the last moment in order to make your turn.

If I enter, I try to get out before the next traffic light, that is, the next major intersection. If exit, I enter the car pool lane less than one traffic light or intersection from my turn. If it is crowded, I might exit later or get over earlier.

I'm not sure what the letter of the law is.

[spicydreamt]

If you find yourself in the carpool lane, you're either exiting at the next intersection or merging out of it by the next intersection. Intersection is understood to mean "stoplight"

[marcopolo666]

Like a couple people mentioned, you have until the next light. According to the local "traffic and roadways" column ("Mr Roadshow" in the SJ Mercury News) cops will ticket you if you drive through an intersection while in the carpool land and you are not legally allowed to be in that lane. I generally don't *immediately* jump in the carpool lane just after the last stoplight before my exit, I wait until I can safely merge about half-way between the two lights, or a little later (unless traffic is waaay backed up in my lane).

[sonarrat]

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. This would also be a good thread to mention that some freeway onramps have 24/7 carpool lanes, like from Capitol to 101N. (And legitimately so, as it can be backed up all day long.)

[never-more]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. This would also be a good thread to mention that some freeway onramps have 24/7 carpool lanes, like from Capitol to 101N. (And legitimately so, as it can be backed up all day long.)

At least the weekend traffic jams are gone now, or so I think, haven't been there in a while. If you asked me, I would habe just turned the metering light on all day long due to the merging problem.

[Wry_Martini]

Those right-lane carpool lanes threw me off at first, when I moved here a few years ago! I should have thought to ask here, y'all could have explained them to me.

[tilz]

Ha ha me too Wry, I ended up in one the other day and didnt notice for about 200 yards , freaked me out when I finally did as there was a cop to the side of the road !! luckily I was turning right at the light so he ignored me.

[marcopolo666]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Everyone else has pretty much covered it. This would also be a good thread to mention that some freeway onramps have 24/7 carpool lanes, like from Capitol to 101N. (And legitimately so, as it can be backed up all day long.)

Yeah - if a carpool lane (generally on the on-ramps) doesn't have day/time posted, then it is in effect 24 hours.

[Scarce Fowl]

Originally Posted by nagleepark

If I enter, I try to get out before the next traffic light, that is, the next major intersection. If exit, I enter the car pool lane less than one traffic light or intersection from my turn.

Cool, that's pretty much what I guessed.