Carpool Drivers Disregarding New Rules

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Drivers are slowly - very slowly - learning the new restrictions on the I-15 carpool lane in Salt Lake County. A new double white line prohibits people from jumping into the lane at-will. UDOT's Nile Easton says drivers have to re-train themselves to get out of the carpool lane earlier than they have been.

"We've actually put them in strategic places to give people enough time to cross over all 5 lanes to get to their exit," says Easton. "People are passing by that and once they see their exit, it's too late. They're electing to just go ahead and violate the lane restrictions at this point."

UDOT has put dotted white lines at intervals along the carpool lane to indicate legal entry zones. During a one-day blitz last Monday, the highway patrol stopped 85 vehicles for carpool lane violations. Easton says the focus, for now is on warning violators of the new rules, but soon citations of around $100 will start to flow.

UDOT has posted a map of access points for the carpool lane online at www.expresslanes.utah.gov.

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