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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| Panama | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Prohibited |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
Documentation
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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