Driving in Hong Kong vs. Mexico: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Hong Kong and Mexico, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. From lane usage to speed limits, these two countries showcase notable contrasts in their traffic protocols. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring safety and navigating efficiently while abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
mexico:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 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 | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| 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
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
mexico:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments