Driving in New Zealand vs. Portugal: Key Safety Insights
When traversing the roads of New Zealand and Portugal, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. Key contrasts include driving sides—left in New Zealand and right in Portugal—along with varying speed limits and rules regarding overtaking. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either destination.
Lanes
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
portugal:
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.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
portugal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Possible |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Portugal |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
portugal:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during holidays |
| 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 |
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
portugal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
portugal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible |
| 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
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay