Driving in Latvia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road conduct between Latvia and Tonga. While Latvia mandates right-side driving and boasts stringent speed limits, Tonga's left-side navigation allows more leniency. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in foreign territories. Discover the essential driving protocols that set these two countries apart.
Lanes
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | 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 | 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 |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | 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 | 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 | 90 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 | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
latvia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
tonga:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | 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, especially on weekends | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
latvia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred