Driving in Costa Rica vs. Hong Kong: Key Differences
Embarking on a journey through Costa Rica or Hong Kong? Understanding the distinct regulations and customs of each nation is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic signals, this comparison highlights how Costa Rica's right-side driving contrasts with Hong Kong's left-side approach, ensuring you navigate these roads confidently.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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 | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
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
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
hong kong:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
hong kong:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
hong kong:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | 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
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay