Driving Differences: Estonia vs. Hong Kong
When exploring the roads of Estonia and Hong Kong, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Notably, Estonia drives on the right side while Hong Kong adheres to the left. From speed limits to emergency protocols, these contrasting driving practices can significantly impact your travel experience. Stay informed to ensure your safety abroad!
Lanes
| Estonia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
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
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
hong kong:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Required annually |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
hong kong:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay