Driving in Cuba vs Tonga: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads of Cuba and Tonga, distinct contrasts emerge in driving regulations and practices. From right-hand driving in Cuba to the left-side approach in Tonga, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travel. Familiarize yourself with key speed limits, lane usage, and etiquette to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | 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 typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
tonga:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 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 | Rare | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cuba:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred