RI Scrapbook--Weird Traffic Laws

This is really a Massachusetts thing, but it's going in my scrapbook. We did a lot of driving to Boston toward the end of our time in Rhode Island. A lot of places have a dedicated HOV lane. Sometimes there is one on each side of the highway and sometimes there is just one lane where the direction is changed depending on the morning/evening rush hour. Well, Boston has an HOV lane. BUT, outside of Boston, the rule is this: During specified hours in the morning and afternoon, you can drive in the right hand shoulder lane. It is quite possibly the craziest thing I have ever seen. Especially since you lose the shoulder lane at exits, so people who aren't exiting have to move over. And people drive faster in the shoulder! This is definitely one thing I will not miss about New England!