Driving in Hong Kong vs. Lithuania: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Lithuania, drivers encounter distinct rules and regulations that shape their travel experience. Key disparities include driving sides—left in Hong Kong and right in Lithuania—as well as varying speed limits and road etiquette. Understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
lithuania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
lithuania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
lithuania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes, issued by police. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
lithuania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
lithuania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
lithuania:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
lithuania:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Indicates prepared to start |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; 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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory annual check |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
hong kong:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
lithuania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
hong kong:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
lithuania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
lithuania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, by police |
| 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
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
lithuania:
Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay