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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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