Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. Philippines
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and the Philippines, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their journey. From driving on opposite sides of the road to differing speed limits and overtaking rules, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and smooth travel experience abroad. Discover the essential contrasts between these two vibrant nations to enhance your road safety awareness.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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 occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
philippines:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
philippines:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
hong kong:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
philippines:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Turns
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Insurance
hong kong:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
philippines:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance