Driving in Slovenia vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison between Slovenia and Tonga reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varying speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these driving variations can enhance your experience and keep you secure while navigating unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Slovenia | 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, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | 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
slovenia:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
slovenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
slovenia:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
slovenia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
slovenia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
slovenia:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
slovenia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
slovenia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
slovenia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovenia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Slovenia | 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 | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are often issued directly by police | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
slovenia:
50 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
slovenia:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
slovenia:
90 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
slovenia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
slovenia:
80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
slovenia:
130 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
slovenia:
100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
slovenia:
80 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovenia:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
slovenia:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Slovenia | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Slovenian; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
slovenia:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required | 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
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovenia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovenia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Slovenia | 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
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Slovenia | 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; roadside checks conducted | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines; varies based on offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
slovenia:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
slovenia:
0.00%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
slovenia:
0.00%
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
slovenia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 for AMZS | 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
slovenia:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
slovenia:
113
tonga:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovenia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovenia:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Slovenia | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, €120 | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, €120 | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, €250 | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred