Driving in New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences
When comparing the roadway regulations of New Zealand and Sri Lanka, distinct contrasts emerge that impact driving safety significantly. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic signals, New Zealand prioritizes clear guidelines, while Sri Lanka offers a more flexible approach. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Overtaking: On Left
new zealand:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Hand Signals: Common Usage
new zealand:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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 left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| 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%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
sri lanka:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
new zealand:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay