Driving in New Zealand vs. Norway: Key Differences Unveiled
Exploring the diverse road rules of New Zealand and Norway reveals intriguing contrasts that are essential for safe travel. From driving on opposite sides to distinct speed limits and vehicle regulations, understanding these variations can significantly enhance your driving experience abroad. Prepare for a journey through unique traffic customs in these two fascinating countries.
Lanes
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or more occupants |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
norway:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
norway:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
norway:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Norway |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
norway:
Not used in Norway
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
norway:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
norway:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | High fines and possible license revocation |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
norway:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay