1. Which side of the road do you drive on in New Zealand?
The left
In Aotearoa we drive on the left, always.
2. What is the usual speed limit in urban (built-up) areas unless signs say otherwise?
50 km/h
The default urban speed limit is 50 km/h unless a sign shows a different limit.
3. What is the usual maximum speed limit on the open road unless signs say otherwise?
100 km/h
The default open road limit is 100 km/h, and some motorways are signposted 110 km/h.
4. In good conditions, what rule gives a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front?
The 2 second rule
Stay at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front in good, dry conditions.
5. In wet or slippery conditions, how many seconds should your following distance be?
4 seconds
Stretch the gap to at least 4 seconds when the road is wet, icy or gravelly.
6. How do you actually check the 2 second rule while driving?
Pick a roadside marker and count two seconds after the car ahead passes it
Pick a fixed point like a power pole, and if you reach it before you finish counting two seconds, drop back.
7. What is the legal alcohol limit for drivers under 20 years old?
Zero
Under 20 the limit is zero, meaning no alcohol at all before driving.
8. What is the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 and over?
50 mg per 100 ml of blood
For drivers 20 and over the limit is 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (250 mcg per litre of breath).
9. What is the only thing that sobers you up after drinking alcohol?
Time
Only time removes alcohol from your body, nothing speeds it up.
10. What effect does caffeine have on alcohol impairment?
It has no effect on the impairment
Coffee might make you feel more awake, but your reactions and judgement stay impaired.
11. What must you do at a give way sign?
Slow down and be ready to stop for crossing traffic
Slow down, be ready to stop, and give way to any traffic that would cross your path.
12. What must you do at a stop sign?
Stop completely, then go when it is safe
A stop sign means a complete stop every time, then move off only when it is safe.
13. What shape is a stop sign?
Octagon (8 sides)
The 8 sided red octagon is unique so you can recognise a stop sign even from the back.
14. What does a triangle shaped sign pointing downwards mean?
Give way
The upside down triangle is the give way sign.
15. What does a yellow diamond shaped sign mean?
A warning of a hazard ahead
Yellow diamonds are permanent warning signs that alert you to hazards ahead.
16. What does a round sign with a red border usually tell you?
Something you must not do
Red circles are prohibition signs, like no entry or no right turn.
17. A yellow sign on a curve recommends 35 km/h. What does that mean?
35 km/h is a safe speed for the curve in good conditions
Advisory speed signs recommend a safe speed in good conditions, they are not the legal limit.
18. Which way do you travel around a roundabout in New Zealand?
Clockwise, keeping left as you enter
Because we drive on the left, traffic flows clockwise around NZ roundabouts.
19. How do you signal when going straight ahead at a roundabout?
No signal entering, then signal left as you exit
Going straight through, you do not signal on entry but you signal left as you leave.
20. How do you signal when turning right at a roundabout?
Right signal on entry, then left signal as you exit
Signal right into the roundabout, then flick on a left signal as you pass the exit before yours.
21. At an uncontrolled T intersection, who gives way?
The vehicle on the road that ends (the bottom of the T)
Traffic on the terminating road gives way to everything on the road that continues.
22. Two cars reach an uncontrolled crossroads at the same time and their paths cross. Who gives way?
The car on the left
Give way to your right, so the car on the left is the one that waits.
23. You are turning right at an intersection. Who must you give way to?
Oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left
Right turners give way to oncoming traffic going straight through or turning left.
24. You are turning from a side road onto a main road. A car is coming along the main road. Who gives way?
You do, because you are entering from the side road
Traffic entering from a side road gives way to all traffic on the road it is joining.
25. Who gives way when a vehicle is entering a motorway from an on ramp?
The vehicle entering the motorway
Merging traffic gives way to vehicles already on the motorway and joins when there is a safe gap.
26. Who has right of way at a pedestrian crossing?
The pedestrian
You must slow down and give way to anyone on or stepping onto a pedestrian crossing.
27. What is the speed limit when passing a stopped school bus that is picking up or dropping off children?
20 km/h in either direction
Pass a stopped school bus at no more than 20 km/h, from either direction, and watch for kids.
28. A bus at a bus stop is signalling to pull out. When must you give way to it?
On roads with a speed limit of 60 km/h or less, when it is safe
In zones of 60 km/h or less you give way to a bus signalling out from a stop, when you can do so safely.
29. How much room should you give a cyclist when you pass them?
At least 1.5 metres
The Road Code says give cyclists at least 1.5 metres of space when passing.
30. There is a solid yellow line on your side of the centre line. What does it mean?
You must not cross it to overtake
A solid yellow line on your side marks a no passing zone because it is too dangerous to overtake.
31. What does a broken white centre line mean?
You may cross it to overtake when it is safe
You may cross a broken white centre line to overtake, but only when you can see it is safe.
32. A broken yellow line runs beside a solid yellow centre line. Who may overtake?
Traffic on the broken line side
If the broken line is on your side you may overtake, and if the solid line is on your side you must not.
33. When must your vehicle's headlights be on?
From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and when visibility is poor
Lights go on from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and any time you cannot see clearly.
34. During the day, you must turn your headlights on when you cannot clearly see a person or vehicle how far away?
100 metres
If you cannot clearly see 100 metres ahead, in fog or heavy rain for example, turn your lights on.
35. When following another vehicle at night, you must dip your headlights when you are within what distance?
200 metres
Dip your lights within 200 metres of the vehicle ahead so you do not dazzle the driver in their mirrors.
36. Which lights should you use when driving in thick fog?
Low beam (dipped) headlights
Use dipped headlights in fog because high beam reflects off the fog and blinds you.
37. How close to an intersection are you allowed to park (unless marked spaces say otherwise)?
No closer than 6 metres
Keep parked cars at least 6 metres back from intersections so everyone can see and turn safely.
38. What do double yellow lines painted along the edge of the road by the kerb mean?
No stopping or parking at any time
Double yellow lines by the kerb mean no stopping or parking there at any time.
39. You park facing uphill with a kerb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
Away from the kerb
Point the wheels away from the kerb uphill, so if the car rolls back the tyre catches on the kerb.
40. You park facing downhill with a kerb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
Towards the kerb
Point the wheels into the kerb downhill, so the kerb stops the car if it rolls forward.
41. Are you allowed to park on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic?
No, you must park in the direction of travel
Park on the left in the direction you were travelling, facing the same way as the traffic flow.
42. You are driving on a learner licence. Where must your supervisor be?
In the front passenger seat
Your supervisor must sit beside you in the front passenger seat whenever you drive.
43. Where must L plates be displayed on a learner driver's car?
Clearly visible at both the front and the back
An L plate must be clearly visible from both the front and the back of the vehicle.
44. How old must you be to apply for your learner licence?
16
You can sit your learner licence theory test from age 16.
45. Under the current rules, how long must you hold your learner licence before you can sit your restricted test?
6 months
At least 6 months on your learner licence first (this is changing in 2027, so check NZTA when you apply).
46. Between which hours can a restricted licence holder drive without a supervisor?
5 am to 10 pm
On a restricted licence you can drive solo between 5 am and 10 pm, and you need a supervisor outside those hours.
47. What must you carry with you whenever you drive?
Your driver licence
You must have your driver licence with you every time you drive.
48. What is the minimum legal tread depth for car tyres in New Zealand?
1.5 mm
Tyres need at least 1.5 mm of tread across most of the tyre to be legal and to grip in the wet.
49. You are involved in a crash and someone is hurt. What must you do?
Stop, help if you safely can, and call 111
Always stop, check people are okay, help if it is safe, and call 111 when anyone is injured.
50. An ambulance comes up behind you with its siren on and lights flashing. What should you do?
Pull over to the left and stop when it is safe
Move left and stop as soon as it is safe so the emergency vehicle can get past.