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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
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:
No
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:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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