Driving in Hong Kong vs. Vanuatu: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Vanuatu, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their on-road experiences. Key variations include the side of the road on which vehicles travel and speed limits, with Hong Kong favoring the left and stricter enforcement. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
hong kong:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | English; 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
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Insurance
hong kong:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; or through police stations |
| 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
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay