I just sent in my application for the Clean Air Sticker to the DMV. I don't believe that this will have much of an impact at all on traffic congestion in California. There are 56,000 registered hybrid vehicles (and not all even qualify) in California and the law only allows 75,000 stickers to be issued. 75,000 additional cars in the carool lanes in a state the size of California is not even a blip on the radar, even if they were all in the carpool lanes at once.

I think Southern California drivers will benefit the most since carpool hours are 24/7, and you don't have to have a FasTrak account (I have one anyway) to get a sticker. I have a 30 minute commute that should be cut to 20 minutes with the carpool lane access, so I am happy. I just bought my used HCH on Monday - great timing!