Driving in Guatemala vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
When comparing the road practices of Guatemala and New Zealand, striking contrasts emerge. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and unique traffic regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for safe navigation in each country. This guide highlights essential insights for travelers to ensure their journey remains secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Guatemala | 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: 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | 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
guatemala:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
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
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
guatemala:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 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 | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
guatemala:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
new zealand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
guatemala:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
guatemala:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
guatemala:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 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
guatemala:
122
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay