Driving Differences: Morocco vs. Tonga Explained
When exploring the roads of Morocco and Tonga, drivers will encounter notable variations in traffic regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving on different sides of the road and diverse speed limits. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey while navigating the unique landscapes of each country.
Lanes
| Morocco | 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 | Limited | 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 | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
morocco:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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
morocco:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
morocco:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
morocco:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and 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: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
tonga:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
morocco:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
morocco:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 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
morocco:
19
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred