Driving in Luxembourg vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
Explore the distinct driving customs of Luxembourg and New Zealand, two countries with unique road rules and regulations. From the contrasting lane usages—right side in Luxembourg versus left in New Zealand—to differing speed limits and alcohol policies, understanding these variations is crucial for safe travels abroad. Stay informed for a smooth driving experience!
Lanes
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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 | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
luxembourg:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
luxembourg:
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
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
luxembourg:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | 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 | 75 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
luxembourg:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Luxembourg | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
luxembourg:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | 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 | Mandatory; regular intervals | 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
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Luxembourg | 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
luxembourg:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
luxembourg:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
luxembourg:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | 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
luxembourg:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
luxembourg:
113
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €145 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay