Driving in Kuwait vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road rules of Kuwait and New Zealand, significant variations emerge that can greatly impact your travel experience. From driving sides to speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore the contrasts between these two nations to drive with confidence and safety.
Lanes
| Kuwait | 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 | Not commonly practiced. | 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. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
kuwait:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kuwait:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kuwait:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
kuwait:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit 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 | Annual inspection required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
new zealand:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
new zealand:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
kuwait:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay