Training in Alexandria, VA the last few days has reminded me of the luxurious DC traffic on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and taught me a lesson about what HOV means. Apparently, if you aren’t actually a High Occupancy Vehicle you get to say “Hello Officer Vasquez*”!
That was a real treat this morning! Driving in a place that you don’t know very well, knowing that you have to make a right turn soon you don’t tend to take many chances of missing your road. Well I think the town officials of Alexandria either need more important things to do then to look for half-lost visitors or better road planning.
Explain to me why you make the right lane, a highly used turn lane, the HOV place to be? After explaining my situation to Officer Vasquez, who seemed highly sympathetic, he offered up these words of advice. “Your road isn’t for another couple blocks, get back over in the middle lane until you get to the road, then come over. And you are still in violation of the law. Here is your ticket.”
Alexandria, Virginia would rather you cut someone off who actually has more than one person in their car to make your turn when you need to OR you get stop in the middle of the road and wait for the lane to clear and then make your turn. I went with option two this morning, next time I’ll probably be more apt to use option one. Happy Hump Day to me!
*Please note that is not his actual name, but he was hispanic.