Driving in Cambodia vs New Zealand: A Safety Comparison
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and New Zealand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their journeys. Key distinctions include driving on different sides of the road, variable speed limits, and the presence of bus lanes. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safety and compliance while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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
cambodia:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
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
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cambodia:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
cambodia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay