Driving in Hong Kong vs. Tunisia: Key Differences Explained
Explore the driving landscape in Hong Kong and Tunisia, where distinct regulations and practices shape road safety. Notably, Hong Kong drives on the left, while Tunisia adheres to right-hand traffic. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these variations is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 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: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
hong kong:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| 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 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay