Driving in Iceland vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences

Discover the unique driving practices between Iceland and Tonga, two distinct nations with varying road rules and regulations. From speed limits and lane usage to emergency protocols and alcohol limits, understanding these contrasts is vital for safe travel. Explore how these countries differ to ensure a smoother journey abroad.

icelandtonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 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 ...

	Iceland	Tonga
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; 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: Indications	N/A	N/A

Driving Side

iceland:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

iceland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

tonga:

List length: 5

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

iceland:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

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 ...

	Iceland	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 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
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

iceland:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

iceland:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

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 ...

	Iceland	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

tonga:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

tonga:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

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 ...

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

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally 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 ...

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

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

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

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 ...

	Iceland		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

iceland:

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 ...

	Iceland	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	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

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 ...

	Iceland		Tonga
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

tonga:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal 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 ...

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

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not 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 ...

	Iceland	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred