Driving Differences: Estonia vs. New Zealand Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Estonia and New Zealand, distinct contrasts emerge that can significantly impact travel safety. From the left-hand driving in New Zealand to the stricter speed limits in Estonia, understanding these nuances is vital for a secure driving experience abroad. Explore how these nations prioritize road etiquette, vehicle documentation, and alcohol limits for optimal safety on the roads.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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
estonia:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
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
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
new zealand:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
estonia:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
estonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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
estonia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | $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 | Yes | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay