Driving in New Zealand vs. Philippines: Key Safety Insights
When navigating the roads of New Zealand and the Philippines, travelers encounter significant variations in traffic regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving orientation—with New Zealanders driving on the left and Filipinos on the right—as well as speed limits and road etiquette. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure experience while abroad.
Lanes
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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 occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
philippines:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
philippines:
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.
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
philippines:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
philippines:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
No
philippines:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
philippines:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 50 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Less common; fines are usually issued later |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
philippines:
40 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
philippines:
20 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
philippines:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
philippines:
50 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
philippines:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
philippines:
80 kph
Speed Units
new zealand:
km/h
philippines:
kph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
philippines:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
philippines:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
Signals
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Filipino; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
philippines:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
philippines:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
Documentation
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Insurance
new zealand:
Liability insurance mandatory
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users |
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
philippines:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
philippines:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
philippines:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
philippines:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
philippines:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
philippines:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
philippines:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | PHP 300 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | PHP 1000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
philippines:
PHP 300
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
philippines:
PHP 1000
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance