Driving in France vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of France and Hong Kong, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key contrasts arise in lane usage—where France drives on the right and Hong Kong on the left—as well as speed limits and enforcement practices. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can enhance your travel experience and ensure compliance with local rules.
Lanes
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
france:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 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: Trucks And Trailers | 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
france:
Not used in France
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
hong kong:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | 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 | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
hong kong:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 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
france:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay