Driving in Saudi Arabia vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and Tonga, distinct contrasts emerge in traffic regulations and safety protocols. From driving sides to speed limits, understanding these variations is essential for a secure journey. Experience the unique road etiquette and compliance requirements that define each country’s driving landscape, ensuring a seamless and informed travel experience.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
saudi arabia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
tonga:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
saudi arabia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
saudi arabia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
tonga:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
saudi arabia:
999
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred