Driving in Norway vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Norway versus Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Norway mandates right-side driving with various lane designs and strict speed limits, while Tonga follows left-side travel with more lenient speed regulations. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | 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 | Yes | 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 | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
tonga:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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
norway:
30-50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
norway:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
norway:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | 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
norway:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred