Driving in Hong Kong vs. Italy: Key Differences Explored
Discover the essential driving distinctions between Hong Kong and Italy to enhance your journey abroad. From road markings to speed regulations, these regions exhibit unique practices. Notably, Hong Kong drives on the left, while Italy favors the right, impacting overall road safety and navigating experiences. Stay informed and drive securely!
Lanes
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| 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. |
| 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
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
italy:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
italy:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
italy:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
italy:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
italy:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days