New Zealand vs Slovakia: Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of New Zealand and Slovakia, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Notable contrasts include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and distinct rules for pedestrian priority. This guide highlights essential differences to ensure you navigate with confidence in both countries.
Lanes
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
slovakia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
slovakia:
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.
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
slovakia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20-30 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Electronic signs display current limits. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
slovakia:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Slovakia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
slovakia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | 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%
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
slovakia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
slovakia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay