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 you can have, as it almost always results in death or severe injury.

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 multi-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 (this reduces the risk of drivers being in your left-side blind spots)
• keep in the centre of the lane, as the camber of the road can tilt your vehicle
• 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.

Proper position for taking curves

On a right curve

Maintain a path toward the left of the road. This is to keep the trailing unit of a long vehicle from encroaching on the centre line.

On a left curve

Maintain a path towards the centre of the road to avoid the left rear wheels of the vehicle from dropping off the road or hitting the kerb.

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Last updated: 28 September 2010