Driving in Kazakhstan vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Kazakhstan and Tonga. While Kazakhstan adheres to right-hand driving with strict speed limits and mandatory inspections, Tonga favors left-hand driving with more relaxed speed protocols. Discover essential insights to enhance your travel safety and ensure a smooth journey in these distinct environments.
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kazakhstan:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kazakhstan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kazakhstan:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kazakhstan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
kazakhstan:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kazakhstan:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Kazakh and Russian; 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
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
kazakhstan:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kazakhstan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
kazakhstan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kazakhstan:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
kazakhstan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred