Driver's License Test Prep
US Road Signs Road Markings

What does a lane with this pavement marking indicate?

A large white diamond outline painted on dark pavement, oriented vertically along the lane.
  1. A.
    Restricted to buses only during posted hours.
  2. B.
    Reserved for high-occupancy vehicles during posted hours. Correct
  3. C.
    Reserved for bicycles at all times.
  4. D.
    Closed to all traffic during posted hours.
The Why

The answer is "Reserved for high-occupancy vehicles during posted hours."

The white diamond marks a lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles during the hours posted on the accompanying sign. The HOV category covers carpools, vanpools, and buses. Drivers who've watched buses use the lane on their daily commute pick the buses-only choice, treating one qualifying vehicle type as the whole HOV category.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. Restricted to buses only during posted hours.

Buses are one qualifying vehicle, but the diamond covers carpools and vanpools too, not buses alone. Narrows the HOV category to a single vehicle type after watching buses use the lane on a daily commute.

C. Reserved for bicycles at all times.

A bike lane is marked by a painted bicycle symbol and BIKE LANE signing, not by a diamond. Generalizes from the familiar bike-lane symbol to any pavement figure placed inside a travel lane.

D. Closed to all traffic during posted hours.

A closed lane is indicated by signs, signals, cones, or barriers, not by a white diamond painted in the lane. Reads a restriction symbol as a full closure without checking the accompanying sign for whom the lane serves.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Road Markings on the roads of every US state . Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, marking 3D.01 (HOV Lane Diamond Symbol)..

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