Driving in New Zealand vs. Switzerland: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of New Zealand and Switzerland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and signaling protocols, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience abroad. Discover the key contrasts that define each country's unique traffic environment.
Lanes
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
switzerland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| 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 | 80 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, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
switzerland:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
switzerland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
switzerland:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
new zealand:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay