Driving in Ghana vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and habits between Ghana and New Zealand. From lane usage to speed limits, this comparative analysis highlights how each nation prioritizes vehicular safety. Discover the unique aspects of driving etiquette, traffic signals, and enforcement practices that define the driving experience in these distinct countries.
Lanes
| Ghana | 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 | Generally not advised. | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
ghana:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ghana:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | 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
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ghana:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
ghana:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
ghana:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay