Driving in India vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving in India and Tonga, where road regulations and practices diverge significantly. From speed limits and lane usage to traffic signal protocols, each nation presents unique challenges and safety considerations for motorists. Understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
india:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
tonga:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
tonga:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| India | 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
tonga:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
tonga:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | 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 in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
tonga:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| India | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred