Driving Differences: New Zealand vs. North Macedonia
Explore the intriguing contrasts in roadway regulations between New Zealand and North Macedonia. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and traffic etiquette, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover essential insights that will help you navigate the roads safely in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
new zealand:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
north macedonia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
new zealand:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
new zealand:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
new zealand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
north macedonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
north macedonia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay