Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    NEARLY 60 percent of 10,000 respondents favored proposed high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, according to a survey by the Shenzhen traffic police.

    Around 27.26 percent said the HOV lanes should be firstly set up on Beihuan Boulevard, then Meiguan Road and Xincai Corridor to ease traffic congestion.

    More than 50 percent said they would share rides with others if the rule was implemented.

    More interestingly, 10.32 percent said they would place dummies in passenger seats to evade punishment when using HOV lines.

    Police said they would use advanced technology to monitor the new lanes, and drivers illegally using them would be fined 300 yuan (US$46).

    Vehicles carrying at least two people would be given priority to use the reserved lane during peak hours, police said.

    Police statistics show 80 percent of vehicles carry only one person during commuting hours. The carpool lanes could reduce traffic and pollution.

    Police will start working on HOV lanes next month and will pilot HOV lanes on one of three roads, possibly Meiguan Road, Xincai Passage or Binhai Boulevard before July this year.