Driving in Hungary vs New Zealand: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Hungary and New Zealand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their journeys. Notably, Hungary adheres to right-side driving, while New Zealand favors the left. Speed limits, lane usages, and road etiquette also diverge, underscoring the importance of understanding these variances for a secure and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
hungary:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
new zealand:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hungary:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
hungary:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
hungary:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
hungary:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hungary:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay