Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs Madagascar
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of driving in Hong Kong versus Madagascar is essential for a safe experience. Notably, while Hong Kong adheres to left-side navigation, Madagascar opts for right-side travel. Speed limits, lane usage, and signage also vary significantly, making this comparison a vital resource for any traveler.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically not used. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | Not recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits are fixed. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
madagascar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
madagascar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
hong kong:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
hong kong:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
hong kong:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
hong kong:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
hong kong:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
hong kong:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
hong kong:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
hong kong:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
hong kong:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
hong kong:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority