Driving in Serbia vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences
Explore the unique road regulations and vehicular customs of Serbia and Tonga in this insightful comparison. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Serbia versus the left in Tonga, varying speed limits, and differing protocols for emergency vehicle encounters. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Serbia | 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'; 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
serbia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | 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 | 80 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 | 80 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 | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
serbia:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
serbia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | 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
serbia:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
tonga:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred