Driving Safety: South Korea vs. Tonga Revealed
When navigating the roads of South Korea and Tonga, understanding their distinct traffic regulations and practices is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in South Korea versus the left in Tonga, as well as varying speed limits and enforcement measures that define road etiquette in each nation. Stay informed to drive confidently abroad!
Lanes
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Often used to separate traffic directions. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | 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 during specified hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
south korea:
Right
tonga:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
tonga:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tonga:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
tonga:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No widespread use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; paid directly to traffic officers |
Urban Areas: Standard
south korea:
60 km/h
tonga:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south korea:
30 km/h
tonga:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south korea:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
60-80 km/h
tonga:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
100-120 km/h
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
80-100 km/h
tonga:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
tonga:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
Signals
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | Not commonly used in Tonga |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Use indicators appropriately |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Korean; symbols are standard | English and Tongan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
south korea:
Signal when exiting
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tonga:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof must be displayed | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South korea | 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
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Common at specific times or checkpoints |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
south korea:
0.05%
tonga:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
south korea:
0.03%
tonga:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tonga:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tonga:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | Contact local police |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south korea:
112
tonga:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
tonga:
Contact local police
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | Tonga | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines and license points given | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | Fines for handheld phone use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines usually paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Immediate payment preferred |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
tonga:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred