Driving in Myanmar vs. Tonga: A Safety Comparison
When exploring the roads of Myanmar and Tonga, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences behind the wheel. With Myanmar driving on the right and Tonga on the left, alongside varying speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe journey in foreign territories.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
myanmar:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 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 | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
myanmar:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
tonga:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred