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A. Barbara, part of your question contains the answer: That stretch of I-5 is too close to the 91. More specifically, the restriction is there to keep you from getting sideswiped.

Painting crews striped off that section of the freeway specifically because of the interchange between the two freeways, per rules enforced by Caltrans.

"We can't have drivers weaving in and out of that car-pool lane," said Laura Scheper, spokeswoman for the Orange County Transportation Authority. The OCTA was the driving force behind the $335-million I-5 project.

Until that work widened I-5 through Buena Park last year, there wasn't a car-pool lane to begin with on that stretch of the Santa Ana Freeway.

Slowly, the OCTA and Caltrans are working to make most of Orange County's car-pool lanes continuous access. But in those areas where there are interchanges involving car-pool lanes, those sections will continue to be blocked off by the double-yellow lines.

Roadside attraction: In a Friday speech, President Obama talked about the government opening up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should the reliability of Middle East oil supplies become even more suspect. Until that happens, we can probably count on gas prices ratcheting ever skyward.

AAA has these tips for economizing every bit of dinosaur juice:

Slow down; vehicles burn more fuel at higher speeds. Besides, does it really make you feel that much better to beat out two cars to get to the freeway on-ramp first?

Minimize braking by watching traffic ahead. This means you, tailgaters.

Avoid quick starts and stops.

Keep your tires inflated to recommended pressures. It's better to check pressure when the tires are cool, after the car has been sitting for a few hours. Most tires list their optimum pressures on their sidewalls. While you're at it, remember to check the pressure in the spare tire!

Lighten your load; vehicle weight affects mileage. It's a car, after all, not a storage unit. If you're done skiing for the year, find another spot for those chains.