Driving Differences: Croatia vs. Tonga Explained
When comparing the road rules of Croatia and Tonga, notable distinctions emerge that affect your travel experience. From driving on different sides of the road to varying speed limits and safety regulations, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either destination. Explore how local practices shape driving safety in these unique countries.
Lanes
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | 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 and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
croatia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
croatia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
croatia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
croatia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
croatia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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
croatia:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
croatia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
croatia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Croatian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
croatia:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
croatia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
croatia:
Common
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
croatia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
croatia:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| 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 | Significant fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred