A
high-occupancy toll (
HOT) is a
toll enacted on
single-occupant vehicles who wish to use lanes or entire
roads that are designated for the use of
high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs, also known as carpools). Tolls are collected either by manned
toll booths,
automatic number plate recognition, or
electronic toll collection systems. High occupancy tolls are a form of
road pricing.
The concept is an expansion of HOV lanes and an attempt to maximize their efficiency in moving vehicles. HOV lanes are designed to promote vehicle sharing and use of
public transport by creating areas of lower road use as an incentive. Since some of these areas are under-used and therefore increase congestion, this has led to criticism of the scheme. HOT lanes are one answer to this. Since HOT lanes are often constructed within the existing road space there is much criticism of the idea, most commonly that HOT lanes are an
environmental tax or perk for the rich. Among critics who view HOT lanes as a perk for the rich, HOT lanes are sometimes derided as "
Lexus lanes".
HOT lanes are currently mostly confined to the
United States.
Canada and the
United Kingdom are reported to be monitoring the success of this concept.