Zil Lanes

Designated lanes for V.I.P. drivers.

In Soviet Russia, Politburo members and other V.I.P.s enjoyed special driving privileges: they could turn left wherever they chose, ignore the speed limit, and use central lanes reserved for emergency vehicles. Such lanes became known as “Zil lanes” or “Chaika lanes” after the limousines allocated to the party nomenklatura and not available to the general public. Nowadays, these demarcated lanes are reserved for senior state officials – though the wealthy can obtain licenses that grant them Zil-lane rights.

Recently, the term Zil lane has been used to describe (and criticize) the dedicated routes that the International Olympic Committee insists upon for cities hosting the Olympic Games. According to The Mail on Sunday:

More than 250 miles of road are to be reserved for V.I.P.s during the London Olympics. Up to 80,000 officials, sponsors, politicians and athletes will have congestion-free lanes in London and at other venues. Ordinary motorists face fines if they stray on to the reserved routes, which include sections of the M25. Challenging the fines could lead to a penalty of up to £5,000.