Driving Differences: Ivory Coast vs New Zealand Explained
Exploring the driving landscape of Ivory Coast and New Zealand reveals intriguing contrasts. While Ivory Coast drives on the right, New Zealand adheres to the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and vehicle regulations also diverge significantly, influencing road safety. Understanding these distinctions is essential for travelers seeking a secure and informed driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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 | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly 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
ivory coast:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
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
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 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, for some infractions. | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
new zealand:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| 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 side and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
new zealand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ivory coast:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
ivory coast:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies, points may apply | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay