Driving Differences: Germany vs. New Zealand
When exploring the roadways of Germany and New Zealand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that affect their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling at roundabouts, understanding these contrasts is crucial for safe navigation abroad. Let's delve into the driving intricacies that set these two nations apart.
Lanes
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | 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. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 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 | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
germany:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
germany:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
germany:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
germany:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | 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
germany:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay