Driving Differences: Egypt vs. Tonga Uncovered
When comparing the road rules of Egypt and Tonga, notable distinctions emerge that can impact traveler safety. From driving sides—right in Egypt versus left in Tonga—to varied speed limits and unique signaling practices, understanding these nuances is essential for a safe journey in either country. Equip yourself with knowledge to navigate confidently!
Lanes
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
egypt:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
egypt:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
egypt:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
egypt:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
tonga:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
tonga:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
tonga:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
tonga:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
tonga:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory annual inspection | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
tonga:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
tonga:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
tonga:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
tonga:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred