Hybrids Causing Congestion

For years, high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVs) have been the ticket to a smoother, faster commuting trip into Washington. Those who carpooled with friends or picked up random riders (known as slugs) benefitted from being able to bypass gridlocked highways and use lanes designed for carpooling. In 2000, Virginia passed a law that gave drivers of hybrid vehicles that same privelege. "For every two cars, there's one hybrid," said Cora Seballos, who carpools daily from Springfield to the District. "Since September, usually the regular lanes have less traffic" than the carpool lanes. Car dealers have struggled to keep up with the demand for clean fuel cars, and some question drivers' motivations for buying them. "I'd say 95 percent of the people who buy a Prius say it's to get into HOV," said Jay Taye, sales manager at Ourisman Fairfax Toyota. "They talk about the tax break and the HOV, and once in a while they say they prefer it for the gas mileage as well." The Virginia statute is schedule to expire in 2006, and transportation officials are urging lawmakers not to renew it. "When they first came out, I thought it was a good incentive," said Fernando Lobo, sales manager at Bill Page Honda near Falls Church. "Now everybody's trying to make hybrids. I knew that one of these days the HOV lanes wouldn't function anymore as HOV lanes."