Driving in NZ (NZ 2012)

I depend greatly on the information from the site, http://www.newzealand.com, to plan my route.

Particularly, I refer to the following suggested routes:
Queenstown - Mt Cook - Christchurch
Queenstown - Te Anau
Christchurch - Fox Glacier
Queenstown - Christchurch

Information on this page is taken from NZ Transport Agency website, please refer to the official site for most updated information.

International Driving Licences and Permits

You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit (IDP). After 12 months you are required to convert to a New Zealand licence. This applies to each visit to New Zealand.

In New Zealand all drivers, including visitors from other countries, must carry their licence or permit at all times when driving. You will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country. The common legal age to rent a car in New Zealand is 21 years.

Make sure your driver's licence is current. If your licence is not in English, you must bring an English translation with you or obtain an IDP. Contact your local automobile club for further details about obtaining a translation or an IDP.

What must you know to drive in NZ?

Road Code: If you have time, please read through the information in these web pages.  Quite alot of reading.
Get familarise with the road signs and road markings.

What is the difference driving in NZ?

Download the PDF document on driving in NZ here.

Driving in NZ
It's very easy to underestimate travelling times in New Zealand. Distances may seem short on paper, but our roads can be narrower than you're used to, cover hilly terrain, and vary from motorways to unsealed gravel roads.
We want you to have a great trip and arrive to your destination safely so make sure you allow plenty of time and take regular breaks. The trip may be slower but the scenery is amazing so take your time and enjoy our beautiful country.

Driving in New Zealand is not difficult but there are a few surprises: the following hints should help you have a safe trip.

• Driving is always on the left-hand side of the road.
   
• Remember the 'give way to the right' rule when driving in New Zealand. This includes giving way to right-turning traffic if you are turning left at an intersection.
   
• When traffic lights are red you must stop. When traffic lights are amber you must stop unless you are so close to the intersection it is unsafe to do so.
   
• Always keep on or below the legal speed limits indicated on road signs. The maximum speed on any open road is 100km/h. The maximum speed in urban areas is 50km/h. Adjust your speed as conditions demand.
   
• Don't underestimate driving times. Although distances may seem short, New Zealand roads often include hilly, narrow or winding terrain, which slow down your journey. If you're used to driving in the city, take care when driving on the open country roads, and watch out for single-lane bridges.
   
• Get plenty of sleep before a long drive. Take regular breaks - one every two hours and when you get sleepy.
   
• Never drive if you are feeling tired, particularly after you have just completed a long-haul flight.
   
• New Zealand accepts the national drivers' licences of all other countries for tourists staying less than 12 months. You must carry your licence while driving.
   
• Check rental agreements before hiring a car; you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car in New Zealand. Also consider paying extra to remove the high insurance excess.
   
• You must always wear a safety belt, both in the front and back seats - it's the law.
   
• Do not drink and drive in New Zealand - drinking and driving laws are strictly enforced.
   
• Most open roads are single lane each way, except for motorways coming into larger cities (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch). Before overtaking, make sure you will have at least 100m of clear road in front of you until you have finished. Do not pass on double yellow lines - these indicate that it's too dangerous to overtake.
   
• Road conditions are variable. Off the main highways some roads may be unsealed and extra care needs to be taken. A few of these roads are not safe for vehicles and insurance does not cover them - ask your rental car company to mark these roads on your map before setting off.
   
• In winter some roads may be treacherous due to ice or snow, particularly around mountain passes. Look out for signs indicating slippery surfaces in winter and drive slowly - do not brake suddenly on ice. In some cases chains may be required (rental cars usually come with chains supplied). Make sure you're familiar with how to fit them.
   
• Helmets for cyclists and motorcyclists must be worn at all times.

Speed Limits

Excessive speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads. On average, 170 people die every year in New Zealand in speed-related crashes.

Remember, the faster you go, the more likely you are to be killed or seriously injured if you crash.

Safe speed guidelines
You can drive at any speed under or equal to the limit, provided:

• your speed is safe for the traffic conditions (for example, slow down if you are on a busy road, or if there are pedestrians or cyclists around)
• your speed is safe for the road conditions (for example, slow down if the road is winding, bumpy, narrow, wet or icy)
• your speed is safe for the weather conditions (for example, slow down if it is raining, windy or foggy)
• you can stop suddenly behind a vehicle that you’re following – if a vehicle ahead of you stops suddenly and you run into the back of it, you will be legally responsible
• you can stop in half the length of clear road you can see in front of you on a road with no centre line or lanes (for example, a narrow country road where vehicles may meet head-on)
• you can stop in the length of clear lane you can see in front of you on a road with a centre line or lanes.

Slow drivers

If you are travelling slower than the speed limit and there are vehicles following you, you must:

• keep as close to the left side of the road as possible
• pull over as soon as it is safe to let following vehicles pass.

Don’t speed up on straight stretches of road to prevent following vehicles from passing you.

Compulsory speed signs
A speed limit is the maximum legal speed that you can travel on the road under good conditions.
Signs showing the speed limit are displayed beside the road. These signs usually have a red border, which means that the sign is compulsory.
You may drive slower than the speed limit shown, but you must be considerate towards any vehicles behind you.
You must drive slower than the limit if:

• conditions make the speed limit shown unsafe, or
• you are driving a vehicle which requires you to drive at a lower speed (such as heavy vehicles, which have a lower speed limit than cars).

Important
Speed limit changes take effect at the sign post.
Before reaching the speed-limit sign make sure you:

• reduce your speed, if the sign indicates a lower speed
• do not increase your speed until you pass the sign, if the sign indicates a higher speed.

Driver Fatigue
Many fatal crashes are caused by people driving when they are tired. If you feel tired, don't drive. Don't risk your life or those of other road users.

Tips to help you avoid driver fatigue

• Get a good night's sleep before driving, preferably eight hours.
• Avoid driving during the hours when you are normally sleeping. For most people, this will be between 10pm and 6am.
• If you normally have a mid-afternoon nap, then you should avoid driving at that time.
• Make sure that following a period of sleep you are fully awake before driving.
• Don't drink even small amounts of alcohol. It will make the effects of fatigue much worse.
• When taking long trips, plan your journey to include rest breaks.
• Share the driving if possible.
• Snack on light, fresh foods. Avoid consuming fatty, sugary or carbohydrate-filled foods, which can make you tired.

Recognise the warning signs

Some warning signs are:

• having trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or holding your head up
• daydreaming, wandering or disconnected thoughts, loss of memory
• yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
• drifting from your lane, tailgating and missing signs or exits
• feeling restless and irritable.

Stop to revive, then drive

During long trips, take rest breaks about every two hours or every 100 kilometres.
If you start feeling sleepy:

• don't keep driving – pull over immediately in a safe place (as far off the road as possible)
• move to the passenger seat and take a 15–20 minute power nap. A short sleep is very refreshing – try not to nap for a period longer than 40 minutes otherwise you may feel groggy and disoriented when you wake up and for quite some time afterwards (this is called sleep inertia)
• wait at least 10 minutes to make sure that you are completely awake before you start driving again.

If you still feel sleepy don't drive, find a place to sleep for an extended period or for the night.

About signs

Main types of sign

Most of the signs you will see on New Zealand roads are international symbolic signs. This means they use the same shapes and symbols as traffic signs all over the world.
Symbolic signs are used because they are quick to read and easy for all drivers to understand.
New Zealand's signs are generally made of reflective material, making them easier to read at night.

The three types of sign

The signs on our roads can be divided into three types:

1. compulsory signs
2. warning signs
3. information signs

You must be able to recognise and understand each type of sign.
Some examples of these signs are shown on the following pages.
Note: the examples shown are only a small sample of the symbolic signs used on our roads. They are intended to familiarise you with the three main types of symbolic sign rather than introduce you to all of the signs you will see when driving.
Important
Road authorities (for example, local councils) may have special rules for road users in specific areas. These restrictions should be indicated by signs or markings.

Compulsory signs

Compulsory signs tell you what you must or must not do.
They are usually red or blue.

Warning signs

Warning signs alert you to a particular hazard on the road ahead. They warn you to be careful for your own safety, the safety of other road users or the safety of road workers carrying out maintenance.
There are two types of warning signs:

1. those that warn you of a permanent hazard
2. those that warn you of a temporary hazard.

Both types of sign are usually diamond shaped.

Permanent warning signs

Permanent warning signs are yellow and black.

Temporary warning signs

Temporary warning signs are orange and black.

Information signs

Information signs give you useful information, for example, the distance to the next town. They are all rectangular, but come in a range of different colours and sizes.

About driving

Key driving skills

Keeping left

In New Zealand, vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road.
It is essential to keep left, because if you don't you are likely to cause a head-on crash. This is one of the worst types of crash, as it almost always results in death or severe injury.

What is a road?

The legal definition of a road is very broad. It includes not only streets and highways, but also any place the public has access to – including bridges, beaches, riverbeds, car parks, reserve lands, wharves and road shoulders.
Because of this, you should apply road rules at all times when you're driving, even when you aren't on a public road.

Keeping left on a laned road

Most roads in New Zealand have lanes marked on them with a white line or raised studs.
When driving on a laned road, it is important to drive your vehicle within your lane.
Where there are two or more lanes on your side of the centre line:

• keep in the left-hand lane as much as you can
• don't use the lane closest to the centre line if you will hold up other vehicles.

The lane closest to the centre line should only be used when:

• you want to pass another vehicle
• you want to turn right
• the left-hand lane is full with other traffic or is blocked.

Keeping left on an unlaned road

An unlaned road is a road with no marked white lines or raised studs.
To stay well out of the way of oncoming vehicles, always keep as close as possible to the left side of the road.

Driving Tip

When driving on an open road with a centre line, your driver's seat should normally be in the centre of your half of the road (except when driving a left-hand drive vehicle).
Reduce your speed to stay in this position when driving around bends.

Keeping left on a curve

Keep well to the left when you are driving around a curve (a bend in the road), whether you are on a laned or unlaned road.
This is particularly important because you can't always see what's around the corner. As well as other vehicles coming the other way, there could be cyclists, horses, pedestrians or an object on your side of the road.