Driving Differences: Ghana vs. Tonga Explained

When traversing the roads of Ghana and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their travel experience. From lane usage—where Ghana drives on the right and Tonga on the left—to varying speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore how each country navigates its unique road rules.

ghanatonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in ghana is 24

1.036 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for ghana is 1.036 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

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	Ghana	Tonga
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right	Generally not advised.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage	N/A	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Driving Side

ghana:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

ghana:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Right

ghana:

Generally not advised.

tonga:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

ghana:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Usage

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Ghana	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	50 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 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	100 km/h	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

ghana:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

ghana:

50 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

ghana:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

ghana:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

ghana:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

ghana:

100 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

ghana:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

ghana:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

ghana:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

ghana:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

ghana:

Yes

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

ghana:

Not used in Ghana

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

ghana:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

ghana:

English

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

ghana:

Triangular with red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Ghana		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Prohibited unless indicated		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

ghana:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

ghana:

Prohibited unless indicated

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Ghana	Tonga
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on vehicle	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

ghana:

Mandatory

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

ghana:

Displayed on vehicle

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

ghana:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Ghana		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use compared to some countries		Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

ghana:

Frequent use compared to some countries

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

ghana:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Ghana	Tonga
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.05%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Yes, used occasionally	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: Professional Drivers

ghana:

0.05%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

ghana:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

ghana:

Yes, used occasionally

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

ghana:

Substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

ghana:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Ghana	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	191	911
Contact: Traffic Police	18555	Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

ghana:

191

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

ghana:

18555

tonga:

Contact local police

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

ghana:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Ghana	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; moderate to substantial fines	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Moderate fines	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply for holding and using a phone	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; moderate to substantial fines	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Common	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

ghana:

Varies; moderate to substantial fines

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

ghana:

Moderate fines

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

ghana:

Fines apply for holding and using a phone

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

ghana:

Varies; moderate to substantial fines

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

ghana:

Common

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

ghana:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred