Driving in Hong Kong vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Hong Kong and Iceland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that are crucial for safe navigation. This comparison highlights key contrasts, such as driving sides, speed limits, and road etiquette, ensuring that travelers are well-prepared for their adventures on foreign streets.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
iceland:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
iceland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hong kong:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
hong kong:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
hong kong:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
hong kong:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
hong kong:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame