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High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes

A black vehicle with two occupants driving in an HOV lane indicated with a diamond road marking.

High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes

High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes require two or more occupants inside the vehicle during designated times. Exceptions include motorcycles, transit buses, police, and emergency vehicles. Outside of designated hours the lane is open to all motorists regardless of the number of occupants. State and local police monitor the safe movement in and out of HOV lanes to ensure drivers have the correct number of people. Civil infractions will be handed out to violators.

The first HOV lanes in Michigan were added on I-75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard in Oakland County (approximately 14 miles).

I-75 HOV lanes - Oakland County Video

I-75 HOV lanes - Oakland County

  • The I-75 HOV lanes are located between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard in Oakland County.
  • HOV lane restrictions will be in place only during peak-hours Mondays-Fridays:
    • 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • At all other times, the HOV lanes will be open to all motorists regardless of the number of occupants.
  • Vehicles with two or more people may use the HOV lane during these hours.

I-75 HOV Monitoring Report

In accordance with federal guidelines, MDOT and project consultants conducted a monitoring report for the I-75 HOV lanes in Oakland County. The HOV lanes opened in October 2023; performance data was collected June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025. Included is an anonymous online survey posted from May 30 to June 30, 2025, to assess public perceptions.

This is an executive summary. Request the full report from the MDOT Oakland Transportation Service Center at MDOT-Metro-OaklandTSC@Michigan.gov.

Review the report

Benefits

HOV lanes are a safe and environmentally conscious choice to expand capacity. There are several benefits for adding an HOV lane:

  • Reduce congestion
  • Improve safety and efficiency
  • Improve travel time reliability
  • Promote carpooling to improve air quality

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