Driving in Jordan vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road rules between Jordan and Tonga. From differing driving sides to speed limits and road etiquette, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that every traveler should know. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance your safety and confidence on the road, ensuring a smoother journey in either country.
Lanes
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the roadway. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No specific bus lanes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited; primarily in urban areas. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicular traffic. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Cycle symbols where applicable. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
jordan:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
jordan:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
jordan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jordan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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. | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
jordan:
50-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jordan:
70-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
70-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
jordan:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
jordan:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | To avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jordan:
Not typically used
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
jordan:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Allowed
jordan:
To avoid accidents
tonga:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
Right Turn On Red
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
Documentation
| Jordan | 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 | Annual inspections required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jordan:
Annual inspections required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use is common | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jordan:
Moderate use is common
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Jordan | 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 at checkpoints | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
jordan:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
jordan:
Can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
jordan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
jordan:
911
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Jordan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, occasionally | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jordan:
Fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
jordan:
Fines apply
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Payment: On The Spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred