Driving Differences: Panama vs. Tonga Explained

Explore the essential distinctions in road practices between Panama and Tonga to enhance your travel safety. From driving on opposite sides to varied speed limits and traffic regulations, each country presents unique rules. Understanding these contrasts not only aids in compliance but ensures a safer experience on unfamiliar roads.

panamatonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in panama is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in panama is 79

0.933 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for panama is 0.933 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Panama	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	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, in some urban areas	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.	N/A

Driving Side

panama:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

panama:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

panama:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

panama:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

panama:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

panama:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

panama:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Panama	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	40-60 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	25-30 km/h	40 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
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	70-90 km/h	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

panama:

40-60 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

panama:

25-30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

panama:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

panama:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

panama:

100-120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

panama:

80-100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

panama:

70-90 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

panama:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

panama:

Common

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Panama	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Panama	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language	Spanish; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

panama:

Not used in Panama

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

panama:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

tonga:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

Traffic Signs: Language

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Panama		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Generally not allowed		Prohibited

Right Turn On Red

panama:

Generally not allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

Documentation

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	Panama	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory every two years for new cars	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

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

panama:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

panama:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Panama		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use, especially in urban areas		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

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

panama:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Panama		Tonga
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% (zero tolerance)		Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during weekends		Common at specific times or checkpoints

Limits: Underage Drivers

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Roundabouts

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	Panama		Tonga
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

panama:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Panama	Tonga
Contact: Traffic Police	104	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

panama:

104

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

panama:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

panama:

Recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Panama	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	$25 to $75	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Varies; fines and points on license	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	$50 to $150, points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

panama:

$25 to $75

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred