Driving in Hong Kong vs. Serbia: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the roads of Hong Kong and Serbia reveals intriguing contrasts in driving regulations and practices. Notably, Hong Kong drives on the left, while Serbia favors the right. From speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey through each unique landscape.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
serbia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
serbia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay