Driving Safety: Belize vs. Tonga
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Belize and Tonga in our comprehensive comparison. From lane usage and speed regulations to alcohol limits and emergency vehicle protocols, these nations exhibit distinct road rules. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safety and compliance while navigating the roadways abroad.
Lanes
| Belize | 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. |
Driving Side
belize:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | N/A |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
tonga:
N/A
Speed Units
belize:
mph
tonga:
km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belize:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belize | 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
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
tonga:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred