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!

braziltonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in brazil is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in brazil is 54

0.922 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for brazil is 0.922 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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	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:

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:

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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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