Driving Differences: Lithuania vs New Zealand Uncovered
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Lithuania and New Zealand. From driving sides—right versus left—to speed limits and traffic signals, each country presents unique rules that impact safety on the roads. Whether you're a local or a visitor, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separation of opposing traffic directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Passing permitted with caution. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | 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 taxis during peak hours. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. | 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 | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
lithuania:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
lithuania:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
lithuania:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | 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 | 70 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 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, issued by police. | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lithuania:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
lithuania:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
lithuania:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates prepared to start | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; 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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
lithuania:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
new zealand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Pedestrians Priority
lithuania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
lithuania:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
new zealand:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
lithuania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact 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
lithuania:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
lithuania:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | 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
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lithuania:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay