Driving in Egypt vs. Hong Kong: Safety Tips You Need
When navigating the roads of Egypt and Hong Kong, understanding the distinctive traffic regulations and driving customs is crucial for a safe journey. From the contrasting driving sides and lane usage to varied speed limits and signal protocols, each country presents unique challenges and practices for motorists. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge before hitting the road!
Lanes
| Egypt | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
egypt:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
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
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
hong kong:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
hong kong:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
hong kong:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
hong kong:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
hong kong:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
hong kong:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 annual inspection | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
hong kong:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
hong kong:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
hong kong:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
hong kong:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay