9. Related to expressways

9. Related to expressways

Even though Hong Kong is a small place, there are quite a number of expressways designed to carry high volumes of traffic at a higher speeds.  Due to this specific nature, the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations(Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong) expressly spell out certain laws governing the use of vehicles on expressways.  Generally speaking:

1. Only those vehicles with engine cylinder capacity of at least 125 cubic centimeters are allowed on an expressway (Regulation 4 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations (Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).
2. Drivers holding only a learner’s driving licence shall not drive on an expressway (Regulation 5 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations (Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).
3. No driver shall stop a motor vehicle or cause it to remain at rest on an expressway except in the case of breakdown, mechanical defect, lack of fuel, accident, illness or other emergency, or to permit a person to help another in view of the above circumstances (Regulation 9 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations (Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).
4. Under normal circumstances, a medium goods vehicle, a heavy goods vehicle, a private bus, a public bus, a motor vehicle towing a trailer or another vehicle, and a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle driven by a person holding a probationary driving licence may not use the offside lane of the carriageway of an expressway where 3 or more traffic lanes are open for use by traffic proceeding in the same direction (Regulation 11 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations (Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).
5. The driver of a motor vehicle on an expressway shall drive the vehicle only in the nearside lane except when the vehicle is overtaking another vehicle (Regulation 12 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations (Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).
6. A driver of a motor vehicle on an expressway shall not, without reasonable excuse, overtake another vehicle on this other vehicle’s nearside (Regulation 13 of the Road Traffic (Expressway) Regulations(Cap.374Q of the Laws of Hong Kong)).

Persons committing the above offence(s) will be liable to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 3 months upon a first conviction, and to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for 6 months upon the second or subsequent conviction.