New Zealand vs South Korea: Driving Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between New Zealand and South Korea. With differing rules on driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage, this comparison highlights essential aspects to ensure your journey remains safe and enjoyable. Familiarize yourself with these key distinctions for a smoother driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in South Korea |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
south korea:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| 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 and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay