Driving in Paraguay vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
Discover the varying driving landscapes of Paraguay and Tonga, two unique nations with distinct road regulations. Key disparities include driving on the right in Paraguay versus the left in Tonga, as well as differing speed limits and traffic etiquette. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a safe journey abroad.
Lanes
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Rarely, usually prohibited. | 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, mainly in urban areas. | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
paraguay:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
paraguay:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 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 | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 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 | 80-90 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
paraguay:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to allow passage | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
tonga:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police checkpoints | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
paraguay:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Roundabouts
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
paraguay:
911
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred