Driving in Cambodia vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and Hong Kong, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Cambodia versus the left in Hong Kong, as well as differing speed limits and traffic sign conventions. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
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
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 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
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; 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
cambodia:
N/A
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay