Driving in Australia vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the driving landscape between Australia and Tonga, distinct variations emerge that are vital for ensuring safety on the roads. From lane markings to speed limits and alcohol regulations, navigating these essential contrasts will enhance your journey abroad. Familiarizing yourself with these key distinctions can make all the difference in your driving experience.

australiatonga

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in australia is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in australia is 87

1.032 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for australia is 1.032 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left	Allowed	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.	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: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or more occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

australia:

Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

australia:

Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.

tonga:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Left

australia:

Allowed

tonga:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

australia:

Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.

tonga:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Bus Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

australia:

Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

australia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

australia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

australia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

tonga:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

australia:

Minimum two or more occupants

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

australia:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

australia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-110 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100-110 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90-100 km/h	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; may vary by area.	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

australia:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

australia:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

australia:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

australia:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

australia:

100-110 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

australia:

100-110 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

australia:

90-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

australia:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

australia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

australia:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

australia:

Common; may vary by area.

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used.	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

australia:

Not commonly used.

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

australia:

Signal when entering and exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

australia:

English; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed, except where signage permits.		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs.		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

australia:

Not allowed, except where signage permits.

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

australia:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs.

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Varies by state; proof may be required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states	Displayed on windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

australia:

Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

australia:

Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

australia:

Varies by state; proof may be required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

australia:

Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; roadside breath testing often conducted	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Varies by state; can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

australia:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

australia:

0.02%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

australia:

0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

australia:

Common; roadside breath testing often conducted

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

australia:

Varies by state; can be substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia		Tonga
Signaling: Entering	Signal right if intending to turn immediately		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left	Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe		Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

Signaling: Entering

australia:

Signal right if intending to turn immediately

tonga:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Lane Usage: Left

australia:

Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe

tonga:

Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	000	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies by state; contact local police	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or NRMA	Check with your insurance provider

Contact: General Emergency

australia:

000

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

australia:

Varies by state; contact local police

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

australia:

Check with your insurance provider or NRMA

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Australia	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; varies by jurisdiction.	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

australia:

Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

australia:

AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

australia:

AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

australia:

AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

australia:

Yes; varies by jurisdiction.

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

australia:

Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred