Driving Differences: New Zealand vs Paraguay Safety Tips
When exploring the contrasting road regulations of New Zealand and Paraguay, drivers will encounter notable distinctions that impact their travel experience. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varied speed limits and lane usage, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a smooth and safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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
paraguay:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
paraguay:
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.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
new zealand:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Paraguay |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
paraguay:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Varies; 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
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days