Anthropolgists believe that the term “slugging” can be traced as far back as  334 BC as traffic on the Appian Way busted the seams with the expansion of the Roman Empire . But it wasn’t until the discovery of a fossilized Starbucks cup along the Oregon Trail and later an ipod case along the Burma Road, did the slugging structure evolve into the current model utilized in Northern Virginia.  Obviously great lessons needed to be learned from major slugging catastrophies of these earlier systems.  Reportedly, the Donner party tragedy was the result of a slug refusing to end his cell phone call which brought the entire HOV line to a halt in a blizzard. 

 So what is slugging and why would anyone partipate?  Essentially, it is legalized hitchiking.  The images of guitar bearing, poncho wearing, weed smoking, beard growing hippies from a prior generation may jump to mind. But rest assured, your most common hitchhiker wears either blue Air Force polyester, the khaki of the naval forces, some new suit from the Men’s Warehouse that the recently retired serviceman just purchased or a smart outfit from Ann Taylor.  They come bearing brief case.

The objective of a Slug is to get into a stranger’s car and ride to work in the DC metro area without paying a penny for gas, insurance, or train fare.  The objective of the “Slugee” is to cram enough slugs into his car so that he/she can drive in the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes into the DC Metro area…. and so that he/she can be in control (we all know the type).  It is a symbiotic and codependant relationship that the state of Virginia encourages to try to minimize the overwhelming traffic congestion churning into the city each day.  The HOV lanes are two lanes segregated from the general population for use by cars with three passengers or more.  They are SUPPOSED to be faster… most days they are. 

  Need more information, or just entertained… “How to Handbook” coming soon