Driving in Croatia vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the diverse roadways of Croatia and Hong Kong, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Croatia and left in Hong Kong—and varying speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your travel experience and promote safe navigation in both regions.
Lanes
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
croatia:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 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: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
hong kong:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 | Annual inspection 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | 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 | Can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 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
croatia:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay