Driving in Estonia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roadways of Estonia and Tonga, understanding the significant contrasts in driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From lane usage to speed limits and alcohol restrictions, these nations exhibit diverse practices. Familiarizing yourself with these essential guidelines will enhance your travel experience and promote safety on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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 | 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
tonga:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
estonia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred