Driving in New Zealand vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between New Zealand and Turkey. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travel abroad. Equip yourself with essential knowledge to navigate the roads confidently in both countries!
Lanes
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| 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
turkey:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
turkey:
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.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
turkey:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
turkey:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
turkey:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More 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 right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
turkey:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
turkey:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges