Which side is the steering wheel on cars in Hong Kong?
2 Answers
In Hong Kong, the steering wheel is on the right side, and vehicles drive on the left side, which is the opposite of mainland China where the steering wheel is on the left and vehicles drive on the right. Below is relevant information: International practice: According to international practice, the steering wheel is placed on the inner side of the driving direction of the vehicle. That is, based on road rules, in countries that drive on the right, the steering wheel is on the left, with major examples including the United States, Russia, China, and Brazil. In countries that drive on the left, the steering wheel is on the right, with major examples being most Commonwealth countries led by the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. This design provides drivers with a good view, contributing to driving safety. Reason: Since Hong Kong was previously a British colony, it adopted British driving rules to facilitate the lives of British people in Hong Kong, changing the driving side to the left and placing the steering wheel on the right. Even after Hong Kong's return to mainland China, the tradition of left-side driving has been maintained.
The right-hand drive setup in Hong Kong has historical roots. During the British colonial era, left-hand traffic was mandated, and this remained unchanged after the 1997 handover. That's why local vehicles have steering wheels on the right, with passengers boarding from the left side. First-time drivers might find right-hand drive unfamiliar - the wiper and turn signal controls are reversed compared to left-hand drive cars. Extra caution is needed when crossing roads too, as traffic approaches from the opposite direction. However, Hong Kong's driver visibility design is quite logical, and most adapt within days. While opposite to mainland China, navigation systems automatically plan routes using right-hand drive logic.
