Driving in Hong Kong vs. Norway: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Norway, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their safety on the journey. Key contrasts include driving on the left versus the right side, varying speed limits, and different protocols for emergency vehicles. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
norway:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| 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
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | None |
| 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
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay