Driving in Sri Lanka vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained

Explore the intriguing contrasts between Sri Lanka and Tonga when it comes to road regulations and safety practices. From lane markings to speed limits, these nations showcase distinct approaches to vehicular navigation. Discover how overtaking rules, alcohol limits, and documentation requirements vary, ensuring your travels remain secure and informed.

sri lankatonga

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in sri-lanka is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in sri-lanka is 66

1.239 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for sri-lanka is 1.239 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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	Sri lanka	Tonga
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the right edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed when safe.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

sri lanka:

Marks the right edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Overtaking: On Left

sri lanka:

tonga:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

sri lanka:

Allowed when safe.

tonga:

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

Bus Lanes: Presence

sri lanka:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

sri lanka:

Reserved for buses.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

sri lanka:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Usage

sri lanka:

Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

sri lanka:

Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Sri lanka	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	70 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	60 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

sri lanka:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

sri lanka:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

sri lanka:

70 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

sri lanka:

60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

sri lanka:

60 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

sri lanka:

100 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

sri lanka:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

sri lanka:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

sri lanka:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

sri lanka:

Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

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	Sri lanka	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Sri Lanka	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Hand Signals: Common Usage	Used more frequently in rural areas	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular shape with a red border and a white background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

sri lanka:

Not used in Sri Lanka

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

sri lanka:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Hand Signals: Common Usage

sri lanka:

Used more frequently in rural areas

tonga:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

sri lanka:

Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

sri lanka:

Triangular shape with a red border and a white background

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Sri lanka		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

sri lanka:

Not allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

sri lanka:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Sri lanka	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit 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	Yes, proof required	Required; proof may be required

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

sri lanka:

International Driving Permit required

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

sri lanka:

International Driving Permit required

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

sri lanka:

Yes, proof required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Road Etiquette

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	Sri lanka		Tonga
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use compared to some countries		Less frequent use compared to some countries

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

sri lanka:

Frequent use compared to some countries

tonga:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Sri lanka	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.06%	0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used regularly	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

sri lanka:

0.06%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Underage Drivers

sri lanka:

0.00% - zero tolerance

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

sri lanka:

Common; checkpoints used regularly

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

sri lanka:

Can be substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Emergency Services

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	Sri lanka		Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	119		911
Contact: Traffic Police	119 or contact local police		Contact local police

Contact: General Emergency

sri lanka:

119

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

sri lanka:

119 or contact local police

tonga:

Contact local police

Penalties And Fines

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	Sri lanka	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; expect substantial fines	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines applied; amount may vary	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines applied; amount may vary	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines applied; amount may vary	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines may be paid on the spot	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

sri lanka:

Varies; expect substantial fines

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

sri lanka:

Fines applied; amount may vary

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

sri lanka:

Fines applied; amount may vary

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

sri lanka:

Fines applied; amount may vary

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

sri lanka:

Possible; fines may be paid on the spot

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

sri lanka:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred