Driving in Argentina vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the contrasting traffic regulations between Argentina and Tonga, you'll discover notable distinctions in road usage and enforcement. Argentina adheres to right-side driving and mandates specific speed limits, while Tonga drives on the left and has different protocols for emergency vehicles and alcohol limits. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring your travel safety.
Lanes
| Argentina | 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
argentina:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
argentina:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred