Driving Differences: Bhutan vs. Tonga Uncovered

When exploring the unique driving landscapes of Bhutan and Tonga, travelers must navigate varied regulations and practices. Key distinctions include speed limits, overtaking rules, and traffic signal usage. Understanding these nuances will enhance your travel experience and ensure a safer journey on the diverse roads of these two fascinating nations.

bhutantonga

LEFT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64

0.758 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 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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	Bhutan	Tonga
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bhutan:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Left

bhutan:

tonga:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

bhutan:

Yes

tonga:

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

Speeds Limits

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20-30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	40-60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	Up to 80 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	Up to 80 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	Up to 60 km/h	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	No	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

bhutan:

30-50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bhutan:

20-30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

40-60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

bhutan:

Up to 80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bhutan:

Up to 60 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

bhutan:

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bhutan:

Yes

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bhutan	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

bhutan:

Not used in Bhutan

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

bhutan:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

bhutan:

English; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Bhutan		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Restricted; check for signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

bhutan:

Not allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

bhutan:

Restricted; check for signs

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bhutan:

Annual vehicle inspection required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bhutan:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Bhutan		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings		Less frequent use compared to some countries

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

bhutan:

Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during events	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial and imprisonment possible	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: Underage Drivers

bhutan:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

bhutan:

Common, especially during events

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

bhutan:

Substantial and imprisonment possible

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

bhutan:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	113	911
Contact: Traffic Police	113	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with local providers or vehicle insurance	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

bhutan:

113

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

bhutan:

113

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bhutan:

Check with local providers or vehicle insurance

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bhutan:

Recommended, not mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Bhutan	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often involves fines and points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines enforced	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines enforced	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Yes	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically immediate payment required	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

bhutan:

Varies; often involves fines and points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Alcohol

bhutan:

Substantial fines, possible jail time

tonga:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bhutan:

Fines enforced

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

bhutan:

Fines enforced

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bhutan:

Fines and points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

bhutan:

Yes

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

bhutan:

Varies; typically immediate payment required

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred