Driving in Israel vs New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
When embarking on a journey through the roads of Israel and New Zealand, it's crucial to understand their unique traffic regulations and practices. Key differences include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and distinct rules for roundabouts. Equip yourself with this knowledge to enhance your travel safety and ensure a smooth driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | 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 | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
israel:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
israel:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
israel:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay