Driving Differences: Canada vs. Tonga Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Canada and Tonga reveals notable contrasts, such as driving on the right versus left side of the road, varying speed limits, and the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes. Explore these essential distinctions to ensure your travels are secure and efficient.
Lanes
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | 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 for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
canada:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
canada:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
tonga:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | 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: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred