Belgium vs. Hong Kong: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Hong Kong, it's essential to understand their distinct driving regulations and customs to ensure a safe journey. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage practices, these regions showcase significant contrasts in road etiquette, signage, and vehicle requirements. Prepare yourself for a seamless driving experience by familiarizing yourself with these key disparities.
Lanes
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | 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 | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 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
belgium:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | 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
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay