Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Hong Kong
When comparing the road regulations of El Salvador and Hong Kong, distinct contrasts emerge. Drivers in El Salvador navigate on the right, while their counterparts in Hong Kong adhere to left-side motoring. Speed limits, overtaking rules, and emergency protocols also vary significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding local driving customs for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
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
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 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 | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
hong kong:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
hong kong:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
hong kong:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay