Driving in Hong Kong vs. Slovenia: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for safe travels. This comparison delves into the distinct driving practices of Hong Kong and Slovenia, revealing key variations—such as driving sides, speed limits, and emergency protocols—that every traveler should know to navigate these regions confidently.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
slovenia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
slovenia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
slovenia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
slovenia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
slovenia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
slovenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes, fines are often issued directly by police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
slovenia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
slovenia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
slovenia:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
Signals
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Slovenia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Slovenian; 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
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
slovenia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
slovenia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| 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
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
slovenia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; roadside checks conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Severe fines; varies based on offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
slovenia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
slovenia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | 1987 for AMZS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
slovenia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
slovenia:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovenia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines apply, €250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline |
| 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
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay