Driving Differences: Nepal vs. Tonga for Safe Travels
When navigating the roads of Nepal and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that affect their travel experience. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol consumption thresholds. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safety and compliance while exploring these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use leftmost lane. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
tonga:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
tonga:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
nepal:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
tonga:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred