Driving in Ghana vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Ghana and Hong Kong, significant distinctions emerge that impact safety and navigation. From driving sides—right in Ghana versus left in Hong Kong—to varying speed limits and lane usage rules, understanding these contrasts is essential for anyone traveling between these two nations. Stay informed to drive safely!
Lanes
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use 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 | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
hong kong:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 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: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | 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
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to 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
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 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
ghana:
191
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay