Ontario plans to open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all outside peak traffic times

By Allison Jones

Vehicles travel quickly in the HOV lane while heavy rush-hour traffic moves slowly in regular lanes on a Toronto highway.

Vehicles zoom along the HOV lanes as morning rush hour traffic crawls along in Toronto, on Monday, June 29, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Ontario drivers may soon be able to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes at times, even if they are all by themselves.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria is proposing to amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow single-occupant vehicles to use the HOV lanes during off-peak hours.

Sarkaria says modelling shows it would reduce travel times and ease gridlock.

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The government plans to consult on the proposed amendment first, and hopes the change can take place by the end of the year.

It hasn't yet decided which hours will count as off-peak.

Right now, only vehicles with two or more occupants, buses, licensed taxis, green-plate vehicles, airport limousines, motorcycles and emergency vehicles can use HOV lanes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2026.

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