Driving Differences: New Zealand vs. Venezuela
When comparing road regulations in New Zealand and Venezuela, distinct contrasts emerge that are crucial for any traveler. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and traffic enforcement practices, understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your journey. Explore the key distinctions to ensure a safer driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
venezuela:
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.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70-90 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
venezuela:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
venezuela:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
venezuela:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
venezuela:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Fairly common |
| 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%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
venezuela:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay