Austrian vs New Zealand Driving: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Austria and New Zealand, understanding the unique traffic regulations and practices is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences include driving on opposite sides, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. This comparison will equip you with essential insights for navigating each country’s roads with confidence.
Lanes
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may also be mailed. | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in New Zealand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | 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
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pedestrians Priority
austria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
austria:
Common
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
austria:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
austria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | 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
austria:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay