Driving in Afghanistan vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
Exploring the driving regulations between Afghanistan and New Zealand reveals striking contrasts that impact road safety. While Afghanistan prioritizes right-hand driving with flexible lane usage, New Zealand mandates left-side navigation with dedicated lanes for buses and cyclists. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and compliant experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
afghanistan:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
afghanistan:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
afghanistan:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
afghanistan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
afghanistan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
new zealand:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
afghanistan:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
afghanistan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay