Driving in Monaco vs. Tonga: What You Need to Know
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Monaco and Tonga. While Monaco's vehicles keep to the right and boast strict speed enforcement, Tonga’s left-side driving offers a more relaxed environment. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | 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 | Limited, mostly on main roads | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
monaco:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
tonga:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
monaco:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred