Driving in Georgia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences

When exploring the roads of Georgia and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Notably, Georgia drives on the right while Tonga adheres to left-side navigation. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable travel experience abroad.

Lanes

	Georgia	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: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or three occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

georgia:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

georgia:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

georgia:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

georgia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

georgia:

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

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

georgia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

georgia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

georgia:

Minimum two or three occupants

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

georgia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

	Georgia	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20-40 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	110-120 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100-110 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90-100 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

georgia:

30-50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

georgia:

20-40 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

georgia:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

georgia:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

georgia:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

georgia:

110-120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

georgia:

100-110 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

georgia:

90-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

georgia:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

georgia:

Yes

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

	Georgia	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	Georgian; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

georgia:

Not used

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

georgia:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

georgia:

Georgian; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Turns

	Georgia	Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign	Prohibited

Right Turn On Red

georgia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

tonga:

Prohibited

Documentation

	Georgia	Tonga
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

georgia:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

georgia:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

georgia:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

	Georgia	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

georgia:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

	Georgia	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.03%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used frequently	Common at specific times or checkpoints

Limits: General Drivers

georgia:

0.03%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

georgia:

0.00%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

georgia:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

georgia:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

georgia:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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

Contact: General Emergency

georgia:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

georgia:

112

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

georgia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

georgia:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

georgia:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

	Georgia	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; 80 to 500 GEL	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	50 GEL	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	10 GEL	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	200 GEL	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; but usually paid later	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 30 days	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

georgia:

Varies; 80 to 500 GEL

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

georgia:

50 GEL

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

georgia:

10 GEL

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

georgia:

200 GEL

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

georgia:

Possible; but usually paid later

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

georgia:

Varies; typically within 30 days

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred