Driving in Hong Kong vs. Israel: Key Safety Differences
Driving regulations can vary significantly between nations, impacting overall road safety. In this comparison of Hong Kong and Israel, we explore crucial distinctions such as driving orientation, speed limits, and traffic protocols. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad, ensuring travelers navigate each country's unique roadway challenges effectively.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
israel:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
israel:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
israel:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
israel:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Used before green light. |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
israel:
Used before green light.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory but recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | Check local 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay