Driving in New Zealand vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the road rules of New Zealand and Russia reveals intriguing contrasts that can significantly impact your travel experience. From driving on the left versus the right side, to differing speed limits and pedestrian protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in each nation. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge before hitting the road!
Lanes
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. |
| 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
russia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
russia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; but fines are also mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
russia:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
russia:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
russia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
russia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
russia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
russia:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
Signals
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Russia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Russian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
russia:
Not used in Russia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
russia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
Turns
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Usually indicated in vehicle documents |
| 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
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
russia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially in cities |
| 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: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
russia:
0.035%
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
russia:
Common, especially in cities
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
russia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
russia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | Check local numbers; 113 is common |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
russia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
russia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines apply, points in the record |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
russia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
russia:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay