Driving in Indonesia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the distinct road regulations and driving customs in Indonesia and Tonga reveals intriguing contrasts. From lane markings to speed limits, each nation prioritizes unique safety measures. Indonesia permits right overtakes, while Tonga emphasizes strict adherence to speed restrictions. Understanding these driving nuances is essential for ensuring a safe journey in both locations.
Lanes
| Indonesia | 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 | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, 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
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | 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 | 50-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 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 | 80 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 | Common | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
indonesia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
indonesia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred