Driving in Albania vs. New Zealand: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique nuances of road rules between Albania and New Zealand. While Albania drives on the right, New Zealanders follow the left. Speed limits vary significantly, particularly in urban settings, and each nation has its own approach to traffic signals and penalties. Understanding these disparities is crucial for safe travel in foreign territories.
Lanes
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| 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: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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
albania:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
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
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
albania:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
albania:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 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 paid at the scene. | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
albania:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
albania:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
albania:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| 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 |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
new zealand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Pedestrians Priority
albania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
albania:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
albania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay