Colombia vs. Hong Kong: Driving Differences Uncovered
Explore the intriguing contrasts between driving in Colombia and Hong Kong, where unique traffic regulations and cultural norms shape the road experience. From distinct lane usage and speed limits to varied alcohol thresholds, understanding these discrepancies is essential for ensuring safety while navigating foreign streets. Prepare for a journey filled with essential insights!
Lanes
| Colombia | 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 '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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
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
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 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 | 70-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | 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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | 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
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | 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
colombia:
123
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay