Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. Morocco Explained
When comparing the road rules of Hong Kong and Morocco, notable distinctions emerge that impact driving experiences. From the contrasting sides of the road each country adheres to—left in Hong Kong and right in Morocco—to varying speed limits and regulations on overtaking, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance while navigating foreign streets.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
morocco:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
hong kong:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
morocco:
Substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay