新西兰地广人稀风景美
自驾无疑是最好的出行方式
但我们也要充分考虑自驾的风险
网上很多人分享过惨痛的经历
去过后能感受到他们的反馈是真实的
New Zealand is vast, sparsely populated and beautiful,
so driving yourself is without doubt the best way to get around.
But we also have to weigh up the risks of self-driving seriously:
plenty of people online have shared painful experiences,
and now that I have been, I can feel that what they say is real.
那边汽车方向盘在右边
车辆在道路的左侧行驶
跟我们国内刚好相反
另外交通规则也有些不同
所以提前做好攻略非常重要
There, the steering wheel is on the right
and cars drive on the left-hand side of the road —
exactly the opposite of home. The traffic rules differ in other ways too,
so doing your homework well in advance matters a great deal.
有些地方必须限速
有些地方必须让行
很多时候在路边牌子上或者地面上
都可以看到英文提醒
提前熟悉交通规则能减轻开车时的压力
In some places you must keep to the speed limit,
in others you must give way.
Very often, on roadside signs or painted on the road surface,
you can see reminders in English.
Knowing the rules in advance takes a lot of the pressure out of driving.
那边人规则意识非常强
大多人是文明驾驶
强塞车、强超车的情况没有碰到过
虽然这样，但我们也不要掉以轻心
关键还是要掌握交通规则
以及平时要养成良好的驾驶习惯
People there have a very strong sense of the rules
and most of them drive courteously.
I never once came across aggressive queue-jumping or reckless overtaking.
Even so, we should not be careless.
What matters is knowing the traffic rules
and keeping good driving habits the rest of the time.
网上租车一定要清楚提车时间
我当时就因为飞机抵达的时间较晚
所以不得不选择一家24小时营业的店
快到取车时间再次通过网络进行确认
这样会节省很多现场办理手续的时间
If you book a rental car online, make sure you know the pickup times.
Because my flight landed late,
I had to choose an office that is open 24 hours.
As the pickup time approached I confirmed everything online once more —
that saves a lot of time on the paperwork when you get there.
到店时店员看了证件后询问了我的驾驶经验
我如实告诉对方我是第一次开右舵车
但随后补充说有16年的左舵车安全驾驶经验
包括租车期间打算去的一些地方
对方根据我要去的地方的路况
耐心给我讲解了一些注意事项
At the office the clerk checked my documents and asked about my driving experience.
I told him honestly that this was my first time in a right-hand-drive car,
then added that I had 16 years of safe driving in a left-hand-drive one.
I also told him the places I planned to visit during the rental,
and knowing the road conditions on my route,
he patiently talked me through a few things to watch out for.
很快，另外一个店员将车开到了店门口
当时是晚上，加上外面又下雨
所以我上车后跟店员又沟通了一会
确保对各种情况了解清楚后
才启动车辆上路
Soon another clerk drove the car round to the door.
It was night and raining outside,
so once I was in the car I went over things with him a little longer.
Only after making sure I understood every situation
did I start the engine and set off.
为了开车导航顺畅
我提前下载了google map地图app
网络是提前买的一种eSIM流量卡
到了新西兰后直接激活使用
期间没有出现卡顿情况
To keep navigation running smoothly in the car
I downloaded the Google Maps app in advance,
and for data I bought an eSIM before leaving,
activating it as soon as I arrived in New Zealand.
It never once lagged or stuttered.
自驾过程中会遇到很多情况
跟网上那些说的不一样
有时真的需要现场去解决问题
无经验可循，就像小马过河
深浅程度只有自己亲身趟一趟才知道
On a self-drive trip you run into all sorts of situations
that are not what the internet told you,
and sometimes you really do have to solve them on the spot.
There is no set experience to follow — it is like the little horse crossing the river:
only by wading in yourself do you find out how deep it is.
路上经常碰到堵车
也看到过车祸
平稳心态保持安全是关键
时时提醒自己
放松但不放纵
I ran into traffic jams often on the road,
and saw accidents too.
Keeping calm and staying safe is the key.
Remind yourself over and over:
relax, but never let your guard down.
取车时车况如何，包括车内外保持干净
还车时也要一样
这是规则也是基本的道德
还车时，店员检查车辆后微笑着说没问题
我才放心离开租车店
However the car was handed to you — including how clean it was inside and out —
that is how it should go back.
That is the rule, and basic decency too.
When I returned it, the clerk checked the car, smiled and said it was all good,
and only then did I leave the rental office with an easy mind.
（注：本文图文来自我的个人微信公众号“兵华小伙”，图片与视频拍摄于新西兰自驾途中）
(Note: text and pictures come from my personal WeChat account “兵华小伙” — the photos and videos were taken on a self-drive trip around New Zealand.)
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