Driving in Hong Kong vs Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the driving contrasts between Hong Kong and Indonesia to enhance your road safety abroad. Key distinctions include overtaking regulations, speed limits, and vehicle requirements. Whether navigating bustling streets in Hong Kong or Indonesia's diverse terrains, understanding these variances is essential for a secure driving experience.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
indonesia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
indonesia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days