Driving in Hong Kong vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, distinct variations in traffic regulations and practices emerge. While Hong Kong adheres to left-side driving with strict lane usage rules, Saudi Arabia allows right-side travel and greater flexibility in overtaking. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
hong kong:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 993 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay