Driving in Argentina vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Argentina and Hong Kong, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key differences include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and contrasting rules regarding overtaking. Understanding these critical distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
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
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | 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
argentina:
911
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay