Encourage the Use of Hybrid Vehicles

Re “Hybrids in Carpool Lanes: a Nonstarter,” Commentary, April 14: How can Robert Poole be so sure the carpool lanes will be clogged with hybrids? There are very few in the state. The carpool lanes are far from crowded, as any commuter will tell you.

Why not give it a trial and see what happens? Or is that too simple?

Poole is concerned that there will be a plethora of hybrids. Just think, if most of us drove them we’d have clean air, lower fuel prices and OPEC would feel our wrath. Certainly, encouraging the use of carpool lanes for high-occupancy vehicles is worthwhile, but where is the downside of achieving the objectives stated above? I see zero.

Yes, I have a Prius and, luckily, rarely drive during rush hours.

Jerry Esten

Northridge

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I intend the next vehicle I purchase to be a hybrid. However, I do not believe they should be allowed into the high-occupancy vehicle lanes. HOV lanes were put in place in order to ease congestion on the freeways by rewarding the people who are doing their part to ease congestion. Single-occupancy hybrid vehicles take up the same amount of space on the freeway and thus do nothing to ease congestion.

I would much prefer that we encourage the purchase of hybrid vehicles in another manner.

John C. Zwiers

Los Angeles