Cuba vs. Hong Kong: Unique Driving Cultures Explored
Discover the unique driving nuances between Cuba and Hong Kong that are essential for a safe journey. From the contrasting sides of the road—right in Cuba and left in Hong Kong—to speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for any traveler. Equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate these diverse roadways confidently.
Lanes
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the 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: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
hong kong:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
hong kong:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 | 50-70 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
hong kong:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in 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
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay