Driving Differences: Portugal vs Tonga You Need to Know

When navigating the roads of Portugal and Tonga, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Explore the unique driving landscapes of both nations and enhance your journey with informed insights.

portugaltonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in portugal is 79

1.83 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for portugal is 1.83 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

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	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	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	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and taxis.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; 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
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

portugal:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

portugal:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Right

portugal:

Prohibited.

tonga:

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

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

portugal:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

portugal:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

portugal:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

portugal:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

portugal:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

portugal:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

portugal:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

portugal:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 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	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	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: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Possible	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

portugal:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

portugal:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

portugal:

90 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

portugal:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

portugal:

70 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

portugal:

120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

portugal:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

portugal:

90 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

portugal:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

portugal:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

portugal:

Possible

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

portugal:

Not used in Portugal

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

portugal:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

portugal:

Portuguese; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

portugal:

Triangular-shaped with white background and red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal		Tonga
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit		Varies by location; check for signs

U- Turns Allowed

portugal:

Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no additional permit required	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Periodic inspections required; proof may be required	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

portugal:

Accepted; no additional permit required

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

portugal:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

portugal:

Periodic inspections required; proof may be required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

portugal:

Displayed on the windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

portugal:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

portugal:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal		Tonga
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

portugal:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.02%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during holidays	Common at specific times or checkpoints

Limits: General Drivers

portugal:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

portugal:

0.02%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

portugal:

0.02%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

portugal:

Common, especially during holidays

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

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

Signaling: Exiting

portugal:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact local authorities	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or ACP	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

portugal:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

portugal:

Contact local authorities

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

portugal:

Check with your insurance provider or ACP

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

portugal:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

portugal:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Portugal	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€120 to €600	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	€240 to €1,200	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€120 to €600	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

portugal:

Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

portugal:

€120 to €600

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

portugal:

€240 to €1,200

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

portugal:

€120 to €600

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

portugal:

Possible

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

portugal:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred