Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. Venezuela Explained
When traversing the roads of Hong Kong and Venezuela, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices. From the side of the road on which vehicles operate to speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Discover the vital contrasts that can impact your journey in these two cultures.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
hong kong:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 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: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | Annual inspection required |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 171 |
| 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Fines applicable |
| 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 | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay