Driving in Hong Kong vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Switzerland, drivers will encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols and traffic signals, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Discover the unique driving landscape of these two countries to enhance your travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hong kong:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
hong kong:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| 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 | 80 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, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hong kong:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| 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
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
switzerland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
hong kong:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
hong kong:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| 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
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay