Driving in Hong Kong vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the key distinctions in road rules and regulations between Hong Kong and Russia. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, this comparison uncovers vital insights for safe navigation. Understanding these variations will enhance your driving experience and ensure your travels remain secure in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. |
| 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
russia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
russia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 70-80 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 | 90 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; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
russia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Russia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
russia:
Not used in Russia
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| 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
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
russia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| 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 in cities |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
russia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
russia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay