(a) As used in this section, (1) “high occupancy vehicle lane” means a traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles with an operator and one or more passengers; (2) “blood transport vehicle” means a motor vehicle owned by a nonprofit general blood banking operation or nonprofit blood collection facility licensed by the state that transports human blood and blood products; and (3) “blood products” means any substance derived from human blood, including, but not limited to, plasma, platelets and red or white blood cells.

(b) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate a lane on any multiple lane limited access highway as a high occupancy vehicle lane and erect or cause to be erected signs identifying any such high occupancy vehicle lane. The office shall permit the operator of a blood transport vehicle to use any such high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of passengers in such vehicle, provided the operator (1) is transporting human blood and blood products between a collection point and a hospital or storage center; (2) displays a removable decal or sign indicating such vehicle is transporting human blood and blood products between a collection point and a hospital or storage center on each side of such vehicle and at the rear of such vehicle; and (3) displays the logo or emblem of the nonprofit general blood banking operation or nonprofit blood collection facility, as the case may be, on each side of such vehicle.

(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.