Driving in Myanmar vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
When exploring the road rules in Myanmar and New Zealand, significant contrasts emerge that impact travel safety. Myanmar drives on the right, while New Zealand adheres to the left. Speed limits and the presence of cycle lanes reveal further disparities, emphasizing the importance of understanding local regulations for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | 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
myanmar:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic 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 | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | 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 | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
myanmar:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
myanmar:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | 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
myanmar:
199
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | 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
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay