When the HOV left lane is open to all traffic on left land on peak hours and the barrier separated HOV lanes are open, it isn't necessary to to go on it to beat the other cars on the other lanes. Chances are there's an accident on the barrier separated HOV lanes. In this area, there's one enterance and one exit on the ends of the HOV road. When you are stuck in there, there is no getting out (perhaps driving out of the "emergency vehicles only" exit, but that's too risky).
