Driving Differences: New Zealand vs Romania Explained
Exploring the driving landscapes of New Zealand and Romania unveils intriguing contrasts. From lane usage to speed restrictions, key distinctions emerge, such as driving on the left in New Zealand versus the right in Romania. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either nation.
Lanes
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
romania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
romania:
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.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| 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 | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Romania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
romania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
romania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
new zealand:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist