Driving in Greece vs. New Zealand: Key Differences Explored
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road rules is essential for a secure journey. This comparison between Greece and New Zealand reveals striking contrasts, from driving sides and speed limits to vehicle documentation and pedestrian right-of-way. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial distinctions can significantly enhance your travel experience and ensure safer navigation on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Greece | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
greece:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
greece:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
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
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
greece:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
greece:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
greece:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
greece:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | 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
greece:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
greece:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €350, points on license | $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 | €350, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay