Let’s get something straight: there is no actual “car” “pool.” A car would do terribly in a pool. It would sink right to the bottom. It’d be the last one we’d pick for our water polo team, we can tell you that much.

Depending on posted signs, you may use the carpool lane if you are:

1.  Carpooling. In other words, you have someone else in the car. Even if they’re tied up in the back seat, it counts. There will be a sign at the on-ramp advising you of the minimum number of passengers you must have in order to use the carpool lane. Party.
2. A bus, or are driving one.
3. A motorcyclist. Motorcyclists are too cool for school, and are also apparently too cool for the regular lanes.
4. Driving a decaled low-emission vehicle. Just one of those perks for keeping the world green and vibrant. 

You’ll be able to recognize the carpool lane because there will be a diamond symbol and the words “Carpool Lane” or “High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane” written on the pavement in this lane, and there will be cars with mannequins positioned in the passenger-side seats so that single drivers can get away with driving in the carpool lane. Don’t be one of those people, though; you don’t want a slew of mannequin rights activists on your case.

You will notice that there are designated places for you to either enter or exit a carpool lane (there are those broken lines we talked about!), so make sure that you only do so when permitted. If you’re going to be crossing over double solid lines willy-nilly, you might as well change your name to Dillinger and turn to a life of crime. *NOTE: Do not actually do this.