Driving in Spain vs. Tonga: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of Spain and Tonga, distinct variations in traffic regulations and practices become apparent. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and road markings, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover essential insights to enhance your driving experience in these two unique destinations.

spaintonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in spain is 90

1.622 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for spain is 1.622 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

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	Spain	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 unless on a one-way street.	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' or 'TAXI'; 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: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or three occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

spain:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

spain:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Right

spain:

Prohibited unless on a one-way street.

tonga:

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

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

spain:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

spain:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

spain:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

spain:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

spain:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

spain:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

spain:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

spain:

Yes

tonga:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

spain:

Minimum two or three occupants

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

spain:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

spain:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Spain	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20-30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-90 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	Yes, commonly used	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

spain:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

spain:

20-30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

spain:

90 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

spain:

80-90 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

spain:

120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

spain:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

spain:

90 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

spain:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

spain:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

spain:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

spain:

Yes, commonly used

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

spain:

Not used in Spain

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

spain:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

spain:

Spanish; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

spain:

Triangular with white background and red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Spain		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

spain:

Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

spain:

Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Spain	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; must carry license.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, periodic inspections required.	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield in some areas.	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

spain:

Accepted; must carry license.

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

spain:

International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

spain:

Yes, periodic inspections required.

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

spain:

Displayed on windshield in some areas.

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

spain:

Mandatory.

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

spain:

Mandatory.

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Spain		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Used more frequently in urgent situations		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

spain:

Used more frequently in urgent situations

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

spain:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Spain	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; checkpoints frequently used	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Severe penalties, including high fines	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in heavy fines and license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

spain:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

spain:

0.03%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

spain:

0.00%; zero tolerance

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

spain:

Common; checkpoints frequently used

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

spain:

Severe penalties, including high fines

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

spain:

Can result in heavy fines and license suspension

tonga:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

spain:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Spain	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Check with local authorities	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact your insurance provider or RACE	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

spain:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

spain:

Check with local authorities

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

spain:

Contact your insurance provider or RACE

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

spain:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

spain:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Spain	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Alcohol	Severe fines and potential imprisonment	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€200, mandatory use	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	€200, points on license	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€200, points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; discount if paid promptly.	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

spain:

Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Alcohol

spain:

Severe fines and potential imprisonment

tonga:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

spain:

€200, mandatory use

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

spain:

€200, points on license

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

spain:

€200, points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

spain:

Yes; discount if paid promptly.

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

spain:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred