Reserved lanes — New York Permit Test
Reserved lanes on the New York permit test — 3 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.
The rules
A diamond symbol painted on a lane indicates the lane is reserved for buses, high-occupancy vehicles like car-pools and van-pools, bicycles or other special vehicles.
The lane is held for vehicles carrying more people. A lone driver in it is a ticket.
This symbol indicates the lane is reserved lanes for buses, HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicles) like car-pools and van-pools, bicycles or other special vehicles.
A driver cannot enter and use a reserved lane unless their vehicle complies with the occupancy or other requirements indicated by signs for the times the special conditions are in effect.
The sign beside the lane sets the hours and the head count. Both have to be met.
You cannot enter and use these lanes unless your vehicle complies with the occupancy or other requirements indicated by signs for the times the special conditions are in effect.
Where a reserved lane on a city street has broken white lines beside it, a vehicle that is not a high-occupancy vehicle can enter the lane if it makes a right turn at the next intersection.
The break in the paint is the doorway to the turn. It lasts one block, not the trip.
In these locations, non-HOV can enter the HOV lane if they make a right turn at the next intersection.
On the test
What does a diamond painted on a lane indicate?
A lane reserved for buses and car-pools. The lane is held for vehicles carrying more people. A lone driver in it is a ticket. New York State Driver's Manual, p.33: “This symbol indicates the lane is reserved lanes for buses, HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicles) like car-pools and van-pools, bicycles or other special vehicles.”
How this works
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Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against New York State Driver's Manual, published by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-15.