Driving in Brazil vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Brazil and Tonga, drivers encounter striking contrasts that impact their travel experiences. From distinct driving sides—right for Brazil and left for Tonga—to varying speed limits and traffic regulations, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Equip yourself with essential insights before hitting the road in either nation!
Lanes
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brazil:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | 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
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred