Driving in Lithuania vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the unique motoring landscapes of Lithuania and Tonga, travelers will discover significant contrasts in road regulations and practices. Lithuania drives on the right with structured speed limits and public transport lanes, while Tonga adheres to left-hand driving and more relaxed speed enforcement. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe travels in these diverse regions.
Lanes
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separation of opposing traffic directions. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Passing permitted with caution. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane 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 | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; 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
lithuania:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
lithuania:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
lithuania:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
lithuania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
lithuania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Lithuania | 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 | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, issued by police. | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
lithuania:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lithuania:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
lithuania:
130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
lithuania:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
lithuania:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
lithuania:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates prepared to start | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Lithuanian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
lithuania:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual check | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
lithuania:
Common practice
tonga:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, particularly at night and weekends | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on BAC level | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
lithuania:
0.04%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
lithuania:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
lithuania:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
tonga:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
lithuania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 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
lithuania:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
lithuania:
112
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
lithuania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lithuania:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Lithuania | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, by police | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Payment: On The Spot
lithuania:
Yes, by police
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred