Can I really be ticketed at the speed limit in express lane?

QLast month someone asked about the speed limit for express lanes. I did not see a satisfying answer. My CHP friend told me that he has given tickets for impeding traffic to people driving the speed limit in these lanes. If I don't want to drive 25 mph in the regular lanes and I don't want to get a ticket for speeding or impeding traffic, how fast should I be driving?

— Linda Brown

AYour CHP friend is correct and it points to how drivers must react to traffic around them. If you are impeding traffic even at the speed limit, try to pull safely into a slower lane.

QNormally, carpool lanes have three signs. One notes the fine, one notes the 2-person requirement, and one notes the time of day when restrictions are in effect.

I was on southbound Highway 101 the other day. I noticed the other two signs, but not the time of day sign. Is the carpool lane effective all day, every day on that stretch of road? If not,

QI wasn't sure if carpool lanes on eastbound Montague Expressway are currently effective, Monday through Friday, 3-7 p.m. During the pandemic, the diamond sign was off and I thought that cars could drive in that lane. With more people going back to work, is the carpool lane enforced, even though the flashing diamond sign is still off?

— Joe Wan

A

Diamond lanes are currently effective in this area, whether the sign is on now or not.

Qwe're one sign short.

— Tom Littmann

A

That area has the normal carpool hours. A new sign is coming.

The Highway 17 section between Los Gatos and just west of Bear Creek Road is in terrible condition. Why didn't that section get repaved with the rest of 17? Is there a timeline for repaving? — Chris Dier

APaving on this stretch of 17 will come within this next year.

There's other work that will begin this week on 17. Starting Wednesday, Caltrans will begin moving fallen trees damaged in the recent storms.

Crews will start on the southbound side, working from Bear Creek Road to Summit Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. The right lane closure will move south as the crew's work progresses.

Once southbound work is completed, crews will switch over to northbound 17, working from Summit Road to Blossom Hill Road from March 13-15. The right lane closure will move north as the crew completes northbound tree removal work over these three days.

Caltrans will update its Twitter page at https:// twitter.com/CaltransD4 on the latest highway conditions, and drivers can check Caltrans Quickmap http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.