Driving in Bolivia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road practices between Bolivia and Tonga. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique traffic regulations. This comparison sheds light on essential considerations for travelers, ensuring a safer experience while navigating through these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bolivia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
tonga:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | 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
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in 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 may apply, varies by location | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred