Driving in Luxembourg vs. Tonga: Safety Tips & Differences
When traveling from Luxembourg to Tonga, it's essential to grasp the distinct driving practices that govern the roads. Key differences include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique traffic signaling. Familiarizing yourself with these regulations will enhance your safety and ensure a smoother journey in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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'; 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
luxembourg:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | 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 | 75 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 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 | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
luxembourg:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
luxembourg:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Luxembourg | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
luxembourg:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; regular intervals | 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
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
luxembourg:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
luxembourg:
0.02%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
luxembourg:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | 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
luxembourg:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
luxembourg:
113
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €145 | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred