Driving in New Zealand vs Singapore: Key Differences
Explore the distinctive driving regulations between New Zealand and Singapore to enhance your travel experience. While New Zealand allows overtaking on multi-lane roads, Singapore prohibits it. Speed limits also vary significantly, with urban limits set at 50 km/h in New Zealand compared to 40 km/h in Singapore. Understanding these contrasts is vital for safe navigation abroad.
Lanes
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
singapore:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Singapore |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
singapore:
Signal when exiting
Turns
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Display not required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
new zealand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
singapore:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay