Driving in Japan vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the distinct driving practices of Japan and Tonga, it's essential to understand their unique regulations and road customs. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance levels. Japan emphasizes strict adherence to rules, while Tonga offers more flexibility, making it vital for travelers to comprehend these variations to ensure safe journeys.

japantonga

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in japan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in japan is 92

1.199 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for japan is 1.199 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

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	Japan	Tonga
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the right edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes, overtaking is done on the right.	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 taxis during specific hours.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

japan:

Marks the right edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Left

japan:

tonga:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

japan:

Yes, overtaking is done on the right.

tonga:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Bus Lanes: Presence

japan:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

japan:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

japan:

Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

japan:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

japan:

Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

japan:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

japan:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

japan:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Japan	Tonga
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	80-100 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: Residential Zones

japan:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

japan:

60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

japan:

60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

japan:

60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

japan:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

japan:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

japan:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

japan:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

japan:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

japan:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

japan:

Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Japan	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Japan	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

japan:

Not used in Japan

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

japan:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

japan:

Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Japan		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by locality; check for signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

japan:

Not allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

japan:

Varies by locality; check for signs

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Japan	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit required along with national license	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit required along with national license	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; proof required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended	Not mandatory

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

japan:

International Driving Permit required along with national license

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

japan:

International Driving Permit required along with national license

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

japan:

Mandatory; proof required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

japan:

Displayed on license plate

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

japan:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Japan		Tonga
Flashing Lights: Usage	To warn of hazards		To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Generally used sparingly		Less frequent use compared to some countries

Flashing Lights: Usage

japan:

To warn of hazards

tonga:

To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

japan:

Generally used sparingly

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Japan	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.03%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	Prohibited; zero tolerance	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints may be set up	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; can lead to license suspension	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

japan:

0.03%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

japan:

0.00%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

japan:

Prohibited; zero tolerance

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

japan:

Common; checkpoints may be set up

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

japan:

Substantial; can lead to license suspension

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

japan:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Japan	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	119	911
Contact: Traffic Police	110	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or JAF	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

japan:

119

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

japan:

110

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

japan:

Check with your insurance provider or JAF

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

japan:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

japan:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Japan	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines, points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol	Severe fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines; enforceable	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Severe fines, points on license	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines, points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Rare; fines usually paid later	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 30 days	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

japan:

Varies; substantial fines, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Alcohol

japan:

Severe fines, possible jail time

tonga:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

japan:

Fines; enforceable

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

japan:

Severe fines, points on license

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

japan:

Fines, points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

japan:

Rare; fines usually paid later

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

japan:

Varies; typically within 30 days

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred