Driving in Chile vs New Zealand: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts between driving practices in Chile and New Zealand. From lane regulations and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, each country presents unique rules that ensure road safety. Understanding these distinctions can enhance your travel experience and promote safe navigation on foreign streets.
Lanes
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes 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
chile:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless 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
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
chile:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 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 | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
chile:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
chile:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | 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 |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Chile | 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
chile:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
chile:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
chile:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | 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
chile:
133
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay