Driving Differences: Italy vs. Tonga for Safe Travels
When traversing the roads of Italy and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that are essential for safe navigation. Key disparities include driving sides—right in Italy versus left in Tonga—along with varying speed limits and emergency protocols. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
italy:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
italy:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
italy:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | 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; checkpoints used frequently | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred