Driving in Tonga vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Tonga and Tunisia, understanding their driving distinctions is vital for a safe journey. In Tonga, motorists navigate on the left side with varying speed limits, while Tunisia adheres to right-side driving and stricter speed regulations. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances ensures a smoother, more secure experience behind the wheel.
Lanes
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Often used to separate traffic directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
tonga:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
tonga:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No widespread use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; paid directly to traffic officers | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
tonga:
40-50 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tonga:
40 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
tonga:
70-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
tonga:
70-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
tonga:
70-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tonga:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
tonga:
No widespread use
tunisia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Tonga | Not typically used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Use indicators appropriately | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Tongan; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
tunisia:
Not typically used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
tunisia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
U- Turns Allowed
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Road Etiquette
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
tonga:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common at specific times or checkpoints | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
tonga:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
tonga:
0.04%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
tonga:
Zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
tonga:
911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
tonga:
Contact local police
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
tonga:
Check with your insurance provider
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Tonga | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines for non-compliance | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for handheld phone use while driving | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines usually paid immediately | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Immediate payment preferred | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tonga:
Fines apply
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay