Driving in Hong Kong vs. Ivory Coast: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Hong Kong and Ivory Coast to enhance your driving safety abroad. From lane usage—where Hong Kong mandates left-side driving while Ivory Coast follows right—to varying speed limits and alcohol restrictions, this comparison highlights essential information that every traveler should know.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
ivory coast:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
ivory coast:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
ivory coast:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Headlight Flash: Usage
hong kong:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited 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
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
hong kong:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated