Hong Kong Traffic Offence Points: License Suspension & 30 Speed Camera Hotspots
The Driving Offence Points System has been implemented in Hong Kong for over 40 years. Simply put, certain traffic offenses incur penalty points. When a driver commits a traffic offense and is convicted by a court, or is required to pay a fixed penalty, they will receive deduction points. But how many points lead to a license suspension, what are the common deduction offenses, and what happens if a P-plate driver gets points? This time, Kwiksure will provide a detailed explanation of the driving offense points system, along with popular speed camera spots across Hong Kong, helping everyone become a safer driver.
Kwiksure has over 25 years of experience specializing in motor insurance, comparing over 60 insurance companies to offer extremely low premiums for both Comprehensive and Third-Party insurance.
- 20 major driving-offense points offenses
- Is it "Points Accumulation" or "Points Deduction"?
- How the system works
- How many points lead to license suspension?
- How to check point records
- What if a probationary driver incurs points?
- 5 common driving offenses in Hong Kong
- How long until point records are cancelled?
- 30 speed camera hotspots
- Will speeding tickets affect car insurance?
- Frequently Asked Questions
20 major driving-offense points offenses
| Offense / nature of offense | Points |
| Failing to give particulars after an accident | 3 |
| Failing to report an accident | 3 |
| Failing to obey directions of police officer or traffic warden | 3 |
| Crossing double white lines | 3 |
| Failing to give precedence to pedestrians on zebra crossing | 3 |
| Failing to stop for school crossing patrol | 3 |
| Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 15 km/hr, other than where item 5A or 5B applies | 3 |
| Careless driving | 5 |
| Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 30 km/hr, other than where item 5B applies | 5 |
| Failing to stop after an accident | 5 |
| Failing to comply with traffic signals | 5 |
| Causing death by dangerous driving | 10 |
| Causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving | 10 |
| Dangerous driving | 10 |
| Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle under the influence of drink | 10 |
| Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit | 10 |
| Failing to provide a specimen of breath for screening breath test without reasonable excuse | 10 |
| Failing to provide a specimen of breath for breath analysis or a specimen of blood or urine for laboratory test, or failing to give consent to laboratory test of a specimen of blood, without reasonable excuse | 10 |
| Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 45 km/hr | 10 |
| Driving in a motor race or speed trial on a road | 10 |
For a complete list of offenses, please refer to Scheduled Offenses Under the Driving-offense Points System of the Transport Department.
Is it "Points Accumulation" or "Points Deduction"?
What is commonly referred to as "points deduction" for driving offenses is actually incorrect, as drivers do not have a pre-set score to be "deducted" from. The correct name is the Driving Offence "Points System" (Points Accumulation).
How the system works
When a driver commits a traffic offense, points will be incurred, up to a maximum of 15 points. When specific number of points are incurred, the following things will happen:
| A total of 8 points are incurred | If a driver has accumulated 8 points or more, the Transport Department will issue an “Advice of Driving-offense Points” to them. This advice details their driving-offense points in respect of the offenses committed within 2 years. |
| A total of 10 points are incurred | If a driver has incurred 10 or more points in respect of offenses committed within a period of 2 years, the Transport Department will issue an “Obligatory Attendance of Driving Improvement Course Notice” to them. The driver must attend the driving improvement course at their own cost within 3 months from the issue date of this notice. |
| A total of 15 points are incurred | If a driver has incurred 15 or more points in respect of offenses committed within a period of 2 years, they can be disqualified from driving by a court of law. The period of disqualification upon conviction for the first time is 3 months, and will then be increased to 6 months for any subsequent convictions. |
How many points lead to license suspension?
When a driver incurs 15 points or more within two years, the court will have the authority to cancel the driver's eligibility to hold or obtain a driving license. The first suspension period is three months, and if the driver commits further offenses after the first suspension, the suspension period will increase to six months.
The court will initially send a summons by ordinary mail to the driver's registered address with the Transport Department. If the driver fails to respond as required, the court will send the summons to the driver via registered mail.
Please note that even if a summons is returned because it cannot be delivered to the driver, the summons will still be considered to have been served. If the driver fails to appear in court as scheduled according to the time and place stated in the summons, the court can issue an arrest warrant.
How to check point records
To obtain your driving offense point record, you can apply to the Hong Kong Police Force Traffic Conviction Records Office. Alternatively, you can log in to the 'e-Licensing Service Platform' to check the detailed record of the driver's past driving offense points (deduction record), which includes the offense, case/ticket number, date of offense/completion date, number of points, and date of points/court order date.
What if a probationary driver incurs points?
If a probationary license holder incurs 3 or 5 penalty points or violates any of the four major restrictions for probationary license holders (failing to display the P plate, driving at above 70 km/hr, driving on expressways in the fast lane, carrying passenger on a motorcycle), it is considered a "minor" offense, and their probationary driving period will be extended by 6 months. However, if they commit a driving offense and thus incur 10 offense points or commit two or more "minor" offenses, a "serious" offense will be considered to have been committed. The court, upon conviction, will immediately revoke the probationary license.
5 common driving offenses in Hong Kong
1. Speeding
According to the Hong Kong Police Force Traffic Enforcement Statistics, there were 114,241 prosecution cases for speeding in the first three quarters of 2025. Although this is a 23% drop from the same period last year, it still accounts for one-third of all traffic offenses, making it the most common traffic violation. This shows that more tickets are issued annually for speeding than for any other offense. Therefore, police officers are often seen on the streets using laser guns, automatic speed enforcement cameras, and even radar speed detectors to catch speeding drivers.
| Offense | Set fine | Driving offense points |
| Exceeding the speed limit by 15 km/hr or below | $320 | No points incurred |
| Exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 km/hr but not exceeding 30 km/hr | $450 | 3 points incurred |
| Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/hr but not exceeding 45 km/hr | $600 | 5 points incurred |
| Exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/hr | $1,000 | 10 penalty points incurred, license suspension for 6 months or more, and mandatory completion of a driving improvement course |
One thing you may not know is that there is a margin of error in radar speed detection, so the police are lenient when dealing with speeding drivers. In most cases, the leniency is set at 3 km/hr, and the penalty is based on the adjusted speed as determined by the police.
For example, if you are caught driving at 66 km/hr on a road with a speed limit of 50 km/hr, after the 3 km/hr leniency, your recorded speed will be 63 km/hr, which means you were only speeding by 13 km/hr, resulting in a fine of $320.
2. Failing to comply with a traffic light signal
Running a red light or misjudging a light is one of the popular traffic offenses, with over 37,798 cases recorded in the first three quarters of 2025. Failing to comply with a traffic light signal incurs a fine of $600 and a deduction of 5 points. Furthermore, it may lead to prosecution, with a maximum penalty of 3 months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for a first conviction; and 6 months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for a subsequent conviction.
3. Failing to comply with a traffic sign
Failing to comply with a traffic sign / Failing to comply with a regulatory sign are two different offenses. The former is under Section 61(1) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), which carries a maximum penalty of 3 months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for a first conviction; and 6 months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for a subsequent conviction. Failing to comply with a regulatory sign is under Section 26(59) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), with a fixed penalty of $450.
4. Violating double white line regulations
Hong Kong drivers are always in a rush and will cut across double white lines if they encounter traffic or take a wrong turn. Police statistics show 28,906 cases of this offense in the first three quarters of 2025, a significant increase of 25% compared to the same period last year. Cutting double white lines not only results in a fixed penalty of $450 and a 3-point deduction, but in severe cases, it can also lead to a charge of careless driving.
5. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving
Over 18,554 cases of "using a hand-held mobile phone while driving" were recorded in the first three quarters of 2025. According to the Transport Department website, "answering a call or dialing a number by pressing the keypad of a mobile phone with a finger" is not an offense. However, placing a hand-held mobile phone between the head and shoulder, or holding any mobile phone accessory, is considered "hand-held," and the offender may face a maximum fine of $2,000.
How long until point records are cancelled?
According to Section 6 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 375) on "Cancellation of Points," only those who have been disqualified from driving by a court will have their points cancelled. The common belief that points are cancelled after 2 years may stem from the fact that the law stipulates that accumulating 10 points or more within two years requires mandatory attendance of a Driving Improvement Course. In other words, the law only takes follow-up action based on points accumulated within 2 years, leading people to mistakenly believe that points are cancelled after 2 years. In fact, accumulated points are not cancelled after two years. Based on the author's experience, the "e-Licensing Service Platform" still shows point records from 3 years ago, proving that the accumulated points are not cancelled.
30 speed camera hotspots
Top 10 speed camera hotspots in Hong Kong Island
- Opposite Kodak House on the Island Eastern Corridor towards Chai Wan
- Opposite City Hall on Connaught Road Central towards Western District
- Garden Road near St. John's Cathedral towards Central
- Pok Fu Lam Road/Chi Fu Road towards Aberdeen
- Outside Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School on Chai Wan Road towards Shau Kei Wan
- Near Hong Kong Tennis Centre on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road towards Repulse Bay
- Near the fire station on Cotton Tree Drive towards the Mid-Levels
- 140 Pok Fu Lam Road towards Aberdeen
Top 10 speed camera hotspots in Kowloon
- Kwun Tong Bypass near Lai Ching Garden sound barrier in both directions
- Lung Cheung Road near Fu Shan Road swimming pool towards Kwun Tong
- Kwun Tong MTR Station tunnel towards Mong Kok
- Coming down from Ferry Street flyover towards Mei Foo
- Waterloo Road flyover towards Mong Kok near Hong Kong Baptist Hospital
- Hung Hom Bypass near Harbour Plaza Metropolis towards Tsim Sha Tsui
- Kwai Chung Road near Princess Margaret Hospital towards Mong Kok
- New Clear Water Bay Road near St. Joseph's Secondary School towards Mong Kok
- Tsing Kwai Highway (Route 3) Kwai Chung exit towards Kwai Chung Road
- Tai Po Road near Garden Bakery towards Kwai Chung
Top 10 speed camera hotspots in the New Territories
- Tin Shui Wai Tin Tsz Road towards Tin Shui Wai
- Tin Shui Wai Tin Ying Road towards Tuen Mun
- Clear Water Bay Road near Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School towards The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- North Lantau Highway at Siu Ho Wan Depot in both directions
- Tai Po Road Shatin Pass section near Kam Fung Court towards Kowloon
- Tseung Kwan O Po Shun Road and Po Hong Road intersection towards Tiu Keng Leng
- Tseung Lam Highway towards Tiu Keng Leng
- Tuen Mun Wong Chu Road towards Lung Kwu Tan
- Ting Kok Road Lo Tsz Tin towards Tai Mei Tuk
- Tsing Ma Bridge near the toll plaza towards the airport
Will speeding tickets affect car insurance?
When renewing or purchasing car insurance each year, drivers need to declare their offense point records for any traffic violations committed in the past two years. So, will speeding fines affect car insurance premiums? The answer depends on whether your speeding offense resulted in offense points.
If you received a speeding ticket without any offense points (e.g. you exceeded the speed limit by 15/12 km/hr or less), your insurance premium should not be affected.
On the contrary, if you have received offense points for speeding, your car insurance premium will increase in the following year, or at least it will be more expensive than for drivers without offense points. The extent of the increase will depend on the total number of points you have accumulated and your overall driving record. This is because if you have multiple serious driving violations on record, you are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents in the future, thereby increasing the risk for insurance companies and resulting in higher premiums.
It is also important to consider how insurance companies handle accidents where speeding is involved. Generally, as long as the speed was not way over the limit, most car insurance plans in Hong Kong will provide compensation and cover repair costs for accidents resulting from speeding.
We recommend that you carefully read the insurance policy documents to ensure that there are no clauses restricting coverage based on speed, to ensure you can receive appropriate protection.
One point to note is about dangerous driving. Your insurance policy generally does not cover accident claims resulting from dangerous driving, such as excessive speeding. For example, if you are driving at 110 km/hr in a 35 km/hr speed limit zone and have an accident, it is likely to be considered dangerous driving by the police, and your insurance company has the right to reject your claim.
Traffic violations unlikely to increase your premiums
Examples of violations that will not increase your risks of traffic accidents:
- Speeding by not more than 15 km/hr (a fine of $320, but no offense points)
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Illegal parking
- Excessive exhaust emissions or causing excessive noise
- Failure to comply with certain road signs, such as "No Waiting" and "Disabled Parking Only"
- Littering
Traffic violations that may affect your premiums
When determining your car insurance premium, insurance companies are most likely to consider the following violations. These violations are directly related to dangerous or careless driving, and insurance companies view them as warning signs indicating the potential for future accidents and claims. Traffic violations that may increase your premiums include:
- Speeding with offense points
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Dangerous driving
- Dangerous driving causing grievous bodily injury or death to others
- Failure to report and leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run)
- Motor racing or speed testing on the road
- Driving without a valid license or allowing an unlicensed person to operate a vehicle
FAQs about Speeding
Does speeding affect car insurance premiums?
It depends on whether you have received offense points. When renewing or purchasing car insurance each year, or when securing a new car insurance plan, you need to declare any traffic violations resulting in offense points within the past two years.
What level of speeding results in offense points?
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 km/hr will result in offense points. There are three different levels of speeding, with the highest level resulting in 10 offense points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does speeding affect motor insurance premiums?
It depends on whether you were given deduction points. When you renew or purchase a new motor insurance plan annually, you need to declare whether you have accumulated points for traffic offenses in the past two years.
What level of speeding leads to point deductions?
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 km/h will incur points. There are 3 different levels of excess speed, with a maximum deduction of 10 points.
What are the consequences of accumulating 15 points for speeding offenses?
If 10 points or more are accumulated within two years due to traffic offenses, the court may disqualify the driver from holding or obtaining a driving license. The first disqualification is for 3 months; any subsequent disqualification is for 6 months.
How can I check my speeding point deduction record?
To obtain your driving offense point record, you can apply to the Hong Kong Police Force Traffic Conviction Records Office. Alternatively, you can log in to the ‘e-Licensing Service Platform’ to check the detailed record of the driver's past driving offense points (deduction record).
What are the consequences of speeding points for P-plate drivers?
If a P-plate driver accumulates 3 or 5 points, or violates any of the restrictions (not displaying a P-plate, speeding over 70km/h, driving in the fast lane on an expressway, carrying a passenger on a motorcycle), it is considered a "minor" violation, and the probationary driving period will be extended by 6 months. However, if they commit an offense that incurs 10 points, or commit two or more "minor" violations, it is considered a "serious" violation, and the P-plate will be immediately revoked upon conviction by a court.
