Philippines vs. Tonga: Driving Differences You Should Know

When exploring the unique driving landscapes of the Philippines and Tonga, it's essential to understand their contrasting regulations and practices. While the Philippines drives on the right with strict speed limits, Tonga favors left-side navigation with more lenient overtaking rules. These distinctions play a crucial role in ensuring road safety and navigating each country's streets effectively.

philippinestonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in philippines is 71

1.159 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for philippines is 1.159 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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	Philippines	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	Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.	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	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	N/A

Driving Side

philippines:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

philippines:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Right

philippines:

Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.

tonga:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

philippines:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

tonga:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

philippines:

Minimum two occupants

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Philippines	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	40 kph	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20 kph	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 kph	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 kph	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	50 kph	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 kph	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	80 kph	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 kph	N/A
Speed Units	kph	km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Less common; fines are usually issued later	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

philippines:

40 kph

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

philippines:

20 kph

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

80 kph

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

philippines:

70 kph

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

50 kph

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

100 kph

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

philippines:

80 kph

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

80 kph

tonga:

N/A

Speed Units

philippines:

kph

tonga:

km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

philippines:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

philippines:

Less common; fines are usually issued later

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Philippines	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Filipino; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

philippines:

Not used

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

philippines:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

philippines:

English and Filipino; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

philippines:

Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Philippines		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Common, check for signs indicating restrictions		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

philippines:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

philippines:

Common, check for signs indicating restrictions

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Philippines	Tonga
Insurance	Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory	Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required for registration; certificate must be displayed	Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Not mandatory

Insurance

philippines:

Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory

tonga:

Liability insurance mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

philippines:

Required for registration; certificate must be displayed

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

philippines:

Not mandatory, but recommended

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Philippines		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users		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

philippines:

Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

philippines:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Philippines	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.05%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.05%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Severe for violations, may include imprisonment	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

philippines:

Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

philippines:

Severe for violations, may include imprisonment

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

philippines:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Philippines	Tonga
Contact: Traffic Police	117	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or AAA	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

philippines:

117

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

philippines:

Check with your insurance provider or AAA

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Philippines	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	PHP 300	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	PHP 1000 to PHP 5000	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	PHP 1000	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

philippines:

Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

philippines:

PHP 300

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

philippines:

PHP 1000 to PHP 5000

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

philippines:

PHP 1000

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

philippines:

Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

philippines:

Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred