Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. South Korea
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and South Korea, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Key differences include driving sides—left in Hong Kong and right in South Korea—as well as varied speed limits and traffic laws. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safe travels in each country.
Lanes
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Driving Side | Left | Right |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
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 |
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
south korea:
Yes
Signals
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in South Korea |
Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
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
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
south korea:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
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 |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
Hong kong | South korea | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; fines and license points given |
Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines and license points given |
Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines and license points given |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines and license points given |
Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay