Driving in Albania vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Albania and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their experience behind the wheel. From driving side preferences to speed limits and emergency protocols, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Explore the key variations that define the driving landscape in both countries.
Lanes
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
albania:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
albania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
albania:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
albania:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
tonga:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred