Driving in Hong Kong vs. Kuwait: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the driving landscapes of Hong Kong and Kuwait reveals intriguing distinctions that every traveler should know. From lane usage to speed regulations, these countries showcase contrasting practices. Notably, Hong Kong adheres to left-side driving, while Kuwait favors the right. Understanding these variances promotes safer journeys and enhances your international driving experience.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
kuwait:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
kuwait:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| 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
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not 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
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
hong kong:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines applicable |
| 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 | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days