Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. Paraguay Explained
Driving in Hong Kong and Paraguay presents unique considerations for travelers. With Hong Kong adhering to left-side navigation and strict lane regulations, while Paraguay favors right-side driving and more lenient overtaking rules, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey. Explore the essential distinctions to enhance your road experience abroad.
Lanes
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
paraguay:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
hong kong:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
paraguay:
Common
Signals
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Paraguay |
Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
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 | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | 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
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hong kong:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; police checkpoints |
Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 911 |
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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
Hong kong | Paraguay | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines apply; amount varies |
Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days