Driving in Bhutan vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Bhutan and New Zealand. While Bhutan boasts unique lane markings and lower speed limits, New Zealand prioritizes modern traffic infrastructure and stricter enforcement measures. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience in either nation.
Lanes
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bhutan:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Turns
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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 left and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
bhutan:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | 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 enforced | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay