Driving in Georgia vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Georgia versus New Zealand, distinct variations in traffic regulations and driving customs come to light. From lane usage to speed limits and penalties, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a safe travel experience abroad. Explore how driving on the right in Georgia contrasts with the left-hand approach in New Zealand.
Lanes
| Georgia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | Not applicable |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
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
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
new zealand:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
georgia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
georgia:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | 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
georgia:
0.03%
new zealand:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
georgia:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
georgia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay