Driving in Hungary vs. South Korea: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the nuances of road regulations between Hungary and South Korea, significant distinctions emerge in areas such as lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe motoring experience abroad, particularly regarding alcohol limits and pedestrian rights. Discover how these two countries differ in their approach to road safety.
Lanes
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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: Presence | Rare | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
south korea:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
hungary:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
hungary:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in South Korea |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
south korea:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
south korea:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
hungary:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay