Driving in New Zealand – Six Observations

We humans have an enormous capacity for adapting.  Put us in a new environment, and at first, everything seems alien. We notice all the differences, each nuance, regardless of how trivial. Then as the days pass, we tend to stop noticing. Pretty soon, it all feels, more or less normal.   

It’s one of the reasons I try to take photos early when visiting new places. I’m still alert to what’s novel. Still looking and seeing with fresh eyes.  My senses are sharp. They have yet to acclimate and become complacent.

When seeing something special, people often say, “this never gets old”.  It does though.  Over time – no matter how remarkable.  We may still find enjoyment. Maybe it’s just me, but I think most of ‘that magic’ is simply the novelty.

So, after logging a few thousand kilometres on Kiwi roads, and before it become same-old, same-old, here’s some of the things I’ve noticed are different, and even odd.

Keep Left, You Idiot!

The most obvious one, is that Kiwi’s drive on left side – or what most of the world thinks of as the wrong side of the road.  After keeping to the right for fifty years and a couple of million kilometres, I’m hopelessly habituated.  Over the years, I have, very infrequently, driven on the left, when visiting places where that’s the norm. It always felt un-natural.

Seeing other cars on the road is a good reminder to keep left.  As is the ever-alert Sharon, who early on would gently prompt me to stay left.  Nevertheless, I have occasionally lapsed, and unwittingly migrated to the right.  Otherwise known here, as the wrong side of the road.  

You can probably imagine the faces of drivers when suddenly confronted – head-on – by our van in their lane.  Their initial look of shock and distress turning to contemptuous loathing, as I swerve to the left. All the while, trying to appear calm yet apologetic.  Sharon, from the shrieks emanating from the passenger seat, seems to be cycling through a similar range of emotions.

Then there are the far less consequential mental lapses flowing from this wrong side of the road business.  My favourite being getting into the wrong side of the car. A sure tip-off that you’re not on home turf. Fortunately, the upshot is limited to minor embarrassment.

Speed Limits and Speeding

All the highways here, aside from short stretches in the big cities, are what we’d call secondary roads – two-lanes of rough pavement without much, if any, shoulder.  No big multi-lane expressways, like Ontario’s 400-series roadways, in these parts. Few straight roads.  Most are windy, or very windy.

The posted speed limits, however, are generally 20 KMH higher. Roads that would be 80 or 60 in Ontario, are mostly 100 here – even some gravel roads.  That drops to 50 when entering a village or town. 

The impact of more realistic speed limits is interesting.  Almost nobody speeds.  At home pretty much everybody speeds – 10 or 20 over the limit is considered normal on the open roads beyond urban settlements.   

Not here.  I’d estimate more than 95% of vehicles travel at or below the limit – often well below.  We haven’t seen anyone blasting along at 20 over. 

Passing – Oh, How Rude

New Zealanders don’t like to pass slower vehicles.  No idea why; maybe passing is viewed as rude or overly pushy behaviour.  Or maybe they’re just more laid-back, and figure ‘why bother mate, what’s the hurry’.   

Even when the driver ahead is travelling well below the speed limit, rarely will anyone pull out to pass. Most people just slow down and remain dutifully behind.  Road conditions don’t seem to change the prevailing mindset. Get to a dead straight section of road with no oncoming traffic, and you think, ‘surely someone is going to go’.  Nope.

Every once in a while, some bold soul will defy convention and venture out to pass.  Probably a foreign tourist. 

Don’t Stop, Give Way

Ever wonder why we have so many stop signs? I have, particularly when riding my bike.  And truth be told, I’ve sailed on through my fair share.  As a driver, I’ve occasionally wondered why the law compels drives to completely stop even when there’s no other car in sight.  So, I was delighted to discover New Zealand has very few stop signs. 

You’re probably imagining, total traffic chaos.  But no.  Order is maintained with ‘Give Way’ signs that indicate who has the right of way.  It all works wonderfully.  Seeing a Give Way sign, drivers slow down, check to see if anyone’s coming.  If so, they wait their turn.  If the way is clear, they continue on without stopping.  Brilliant!

New Zealand also has far fewer traffic lights. Instead, roundabouts rule most intersections.  These are still relatively rare in Canada, which is a shame.  Traffic lights are a ‘dumb’ technology – forcing vehicles to stop regardless of the circumstance.  Roundabouts, on the other hand, allow vehicles to keep moving if the coast is clear. Traffic comes to halt only when necessary. 

Imagine, Roads with Few Trucks

On Canadian roads, big transport trucks often seem to out-number passage vehicles.  Packs of them, travelling two or three abreast, can completely clog highways lanes as they inch ever so slowly by one another.

There are big rigs on New Zealand’s roads, just far fewer of them.  And, that makes driving more pleasurable and less frustrating. 

So too does the rugged, mountainous terrain.  You can’t let your attention wonder, however.  The roads are narrower than we’re accustom to, with lots of challenging twisty bits to negotiate.  The deep drop-offs might be breathtakingly beautiful, but guardrails are scarce.

Amazing roads for a sports car or motor bike.  Alas, we’re in a rather tall, diesel-powered van, chalk full of things that clang around if one gets a little too, uhm, let’s say exuberant.

Sharon, has, on a couple of occasions, cautioned me about what she calls my ‘Mario Van’dretti impulse’.  Not a clue what she’s on about!