Driving Differences: Malaysia vs New Zealand Explained
When traversing the roads of Malaysia and New Zealand, drivers encounter notable contrasts that affect their travel experience. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol regulations, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Explore the unique driving rules in these two countries to navigate confidently and responsibly.
Lanes
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or '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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
new zealand:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 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
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malaysia:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay and English; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | 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 left and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
malaysia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
malaysia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
new zealand:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malaysia:
999
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malaysia:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | RM300, points on license | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | 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
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay