Driving in Guatemala vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of Guatemala and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and unique traffic signals, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience abroad. Prepare to explore the essential driving nuances of these two captivating nations.

guatemalatonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in guatemala is 63

1.087 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for guatemala is 1.087 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 ...

	Guatemala	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.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Limited	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with vehicles in some areas.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Varies by location.	N/A

Driving Side

guatemala:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

guatemala:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

guatemala:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

guatemala:

Limited

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

guatemala:

Shared with vehicles in some areas.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

guatemala:

Varies by location.

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 ...

	Guatemala	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	40-60 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70 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	90 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Limited use	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, common practice	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

guatemala:

40-60 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

guatemala:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

guatemala:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

guatemala:

70 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

guatemala:

70 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

guatemala:

100 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

guatemala:

90 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

guatemala:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

guatemala:

Limited use

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

guatemala:

Yes, common practice

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 ...

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

guatemala:

Not used in Guatemala

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

guatemala:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

guatemala:

Spanish; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

guatemala:

Triangle-shaped with red border

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 ...

	Guatemala		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Varies, check local signs for permission		Prohibited

Right Turn On Red

guatemala:

Varies, check local signs for permission

tonga:

Prohibited

Documentation

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

	Guatemala	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; proof may be required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the vehicle	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

guatemala:

International Driving Permit recommended

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

guatemala:

International Driving Permit recommended

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

guatemala:

Mandatory; proof may be required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

guatemala:

Displayed on the vehicle

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

guatemala:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

guatemala:

Mandatory

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 ...

	Guatemala		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	More 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

guatemala:

More frequent use compared to some countries

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

guatemala:

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 ...

	Guatemala	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially at night	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Varies by locality; can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

guatemala:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

guatemala:

0.00%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

guatemala:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

guatemala:

Common, especially at night

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

guatemala:

Varies by locality; can be substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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

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

Signaling: Exiting

guatemala:

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 ...

	Guatemala	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	122	911
Contact: Traffic Police	110	Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

guatemala:

122

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

guatemala:

110

tonga:

Contact local police

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

guatemala:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

guatemala:

Mandatory

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 ...

	Guatemala	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines imposed	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines imposed	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Substantial fines	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, often required	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; check with local authorities	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

guatemala:

Varies; substantial fines

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

guatemala:

Fines imposed

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

guatemala:

Fines imposed

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

guatemala:

Substantial fines

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

guatemala:

Yes, often required

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

guatemala:

Varies; check with local authorities

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred