Driving in Afghanistan vs. Hong Kong: Key Differences
When comparing the driving landscapes of Afghanistan and Hong Kong, distinct contrasts emerge. From lane regulations and speed restrictions to signage and enforcement practices, these nations exhibit unique road protocols. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring traveler safety and a smooth driving experience in each locale.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
afghanistan:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
afghanistan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay