Driving Differences: Oman vs Tonga for Safe Travels
When traveling abroad, understanding the variances in roadway regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison between Oman and Tonga reveals notable distinctions, such as the driving side and speed limits. While Oman adheres to right-side driving and stricter alcohol limits, Tonga utilizes the left side with more lenient legal thresholds, highlighting the importance of adapting to local customs for a safe experience.
Lanes
| Oman | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
oman:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
oman:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
oman:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
oman:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
oman:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 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 |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
oman:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
oman:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
oman:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
oman:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
oman:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Oman | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
oman:
Not used in Oman
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
oman:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
tonga:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
oman:
Not typically allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
oman:
Regular inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use more frequent compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
oman:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
oman:
0.00%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
oman:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
oman:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
oman:
Common
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
oman:
Substantial fines
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
oman:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 9999 | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
oman:
9999
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
oman:
9999
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
oman:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
oman:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Oman | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines may apply | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines can be substantial | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; ensure timely payment | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
oman:
Fines may apply
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
oman:
Fines may apply
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
oman:
Fines can be substantial
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
oman:
Common
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred