Driving in Albania vs. Hong Kong: Key Differences Uncovered
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial. In our comparison of Albania and Hong Kong, notable distinctions emerge, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits. This guide aims to equip you with essential information to navigate safely and confidently in both destinations.
Lanes
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
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
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
albania:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
hong kong:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay