Driving in Morocco vs New Zealand: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of Morocco and New Zealand, you'll encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape the driving experience. Key variations include driving sides—right in Morocco and left in New Zealand—as well as differing speed limits and alcohol regulations. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Morocco | 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: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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
morocco:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
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
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
new zealand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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
morocco:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
morocco:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
new zealand:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
morocco:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 windshield. | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
morocco:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
morocco:
19
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay