Driving in Switzerland vs Tonga: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the roads of Switzerland and Tonga, drivers encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From lane usage and speed restrictions to traffic signals and alcohol limits, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison sheds light on how these two countries prioritize road safety and driver etiquette in unique ways.

switzerlandtonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in switzerland is 93

1.95 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for switzerland is 1.95 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

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Used in temporary traffic management.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.	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 sometimes taxis.	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: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

switzerland:

Right

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

tonga:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Right

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

tonga:

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

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

switzerland:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

switzerland:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

switzerland:

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

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

switzerland:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

switzerland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

switzerland:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

switzerland:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 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	80 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, drivers can be fined on the spot.	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

switzerland:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

switzerland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

switzerland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

switzerland:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

switzerland:

120 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

switzerland:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

switzerland:

80 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

switzerland:

Yes

tonga:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

switzerland:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Prepare to go	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used	English and Tongan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

switzerland:

Prepare to go

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

switzerland:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by sign		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available	Required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

switzerland:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland		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

switzerland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.05%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; police conduct random breath tests	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; fines can be based on income	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fines	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

switzerland:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

switzerland:

0.05%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

switzerland:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

tonga:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Signaling: Entering	No signaling normally required when entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit	Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right	Use for the first exit or straight	Use for first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

tonga:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

switzerland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Lane Usage: Right

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

tonga:

Use for first exit or straight

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	117	Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance	140	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

switzerland:

112

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

switzerland:

117

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

switzerland:

140

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

switzerland:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Switzerland	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	CHF 60	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	CHF 100	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; substantial fines	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines can be issued on the spot	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

switzerland:

CHF 60

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

switzerland:

CHF 100

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred