Driving in Austria vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained

When comparing the road regulations of Austria and Tonga, notable contrasts emerge that impact your travel experience. Austria adheres to right-side driving with stringent speed limits, while Tonga follows left-side protocols with more relaxed constraints. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in both nations.

austriatonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in austria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in austria is 86

1.628 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for austria is 1.628 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

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	Austria	Tonga
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

austria:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

austria:

Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

austria:

Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.

tonga:

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

Overtaking: On Right

austria:

Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.

tonga:

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

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

austria:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

austria:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

austria:

Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

austria:

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

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

austria:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

austria:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

austria:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

austria:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

austria:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Austria	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	130 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 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; fines may also be mailed.	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

austria:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

austria:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

austria:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

130 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

austria:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

austria:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

austria:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

austria:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

austria:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

austria:

Common; fines may also be mailed.

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Austria	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	German; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

austria:

Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

austria:

Signal when entering and exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

austria:

German; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

austria:

Triangular with red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Austria		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

austria:

Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

austria:

Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Austria	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, proof may be required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

austria:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

austria:

Yes, proof may be required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

austria:

Displayed on license plate

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

austria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

austria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Austria		Tonga
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

austria:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Austria	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.01%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.01%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; varies by offense	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

austria:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

austria:

0.01%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

austria:

0.01%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

austria:

Common

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

austria:

Substantial; varies by offense

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Austria		Tonga
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

austria:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Austria	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	133	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

austria:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

austria:

133

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

austria:

120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

austria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

austria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Austria	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license	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, points on license	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Common	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 14 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

austria:

Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

austria:

Fines apply

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

austria:

Common

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

austria:

Varies; typically 14 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred