Driving Differences: New Zealand vs. Serbia Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between New Zealand and Serbia reveals key distinctions in driving protocols, such as lane usage, speed limits, and documentation requirements. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can significantly enhance your driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
serbia:
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.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Serbia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay