Driving in Hong Kong vs. Oman: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Hong Kong and Oman, drivers will encounter notable distinctions in traffic regulations and practices. From lane usage to speed limits, the contrast between driving on the left in Hong Kong and the right in Oman shapes a unique experience. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
oman:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
oman:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
oman:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
oman:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
oman:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
oman:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
oman:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
oman:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
oman:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
oman:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
oman:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
oman:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Oman |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
oman:
Not used in Oman
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
oman:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Regular inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
oman:
Regular inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
oman:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Use more frequent 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
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
oman:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
oman:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
oman:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
oman:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
oman:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 9999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 9999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
oman:
9999
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
oman:
9999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
oman:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Oman | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; ensure timely payment |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
oman:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
oman:
Fines can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
oman:
Common
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment