Driving in Finland vs Tonga: Key Safety Differences

Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Finland and Tonga, essential for ensuring safe travels abroad. While Finland adheres to right-side driving and meticulous lane management, Tonga’s left-side approach presents unique challenges. Explore vital distinctions in speed limits, signaling practices, and documentation requirements to enhance your driving experience in these diverse countries.

finlandtonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in finland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	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

finland:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

finland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

finland:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

finland:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

finland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

finland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

finland:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

finland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

finland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 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	100-120 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 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

finland:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

finland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

finland:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

finland:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

finland:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory for certain situations	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

finland:

Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland		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

finland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	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	Common; checkpoints used	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

finland:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

tonga:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland		Tonga
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

finland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

finland:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Finland	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

finland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred