Driving Differences: Peru vs Tonga for Safe Travel
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Peru and Tonga reveals notable distinctions, such as driving sides, speed limits, and traffic signal protocols. Familiarizing yourself with these driving variances will help ensure a smoother and more secure experience on unfamiliar roads.
Lanes
| Peru | 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 | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
peru:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
peru:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
peru:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
peru:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
peru:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
peru:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
peru:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; often collected by traffic police | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
peru:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
peru:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
peru:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
peru:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
peru:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
peru:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
90 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
peru:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Peru | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
peru:
Yellow
tonga:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
peru:
Not used in Peru
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
peru:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, proof is required during checks | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Typically displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Peru | 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; checkpoints used widely | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
peru:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
peru:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
peru:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 105 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local service | 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
peru:
105
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Peru | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, often substantial | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred