Tonga vs Vanuatu: Key Driving Differences Explored

The driving landscapes of Tonga and Vanuatu reveal intriguing contrasts that are vital for road safety travelers. While Tonga adheres to left-side driving, Vanuatu opts for the right. Speed limits vary significantly, with Tonga allowing higher speeds in urban areas compared to Vanuatu’s more cautious approach. Understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey in these island nations.

tongavanuatu

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in tonga is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in tonga is 75

0 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for tonga is 0 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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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Driving Side	Left	Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Often used to separate traffic directions.	Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use leftmost lane.	Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage	N/A	Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Not commonly used in Vanuatu.

Driving Side

tonga:

Left

vanuatu:

Right

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

vanuatu:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

vanuatu:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

Not applicable in Vanuatu.

Bus Lanes: Markings

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Usage

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

Bicycles generally share the road with cars.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

Not applicable in Vanuatu.

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

Not commonly used in Vanuatu.

Speeds Limits

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Urban Areas: Standard	40-50 km/h	30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	40 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	70-80 km/h	50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70-80 km/h	50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70-80 km/h	50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits	80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	N/A	80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	N/A	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	No widespread use	Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; paid directly to traffic officers	Yes; fines can be issued directly.

Urban Areas: Standard

tonga:

40-50 km/h

vanuatu:

30-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

tonga:

40 km/h

vanuatu:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

tonga:

70-80 km/h

vanuatu:

50-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

tonga:

70-80 km/h

vanuatu:

50-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

tonga:

70-80 km/h

vanuatu:

50-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

vanuatu:

80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

80 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

tonga:

N/A

vanuatu:

Not commonly used in Vanuatu.

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

tonga:

No widespread use

vanuatu:

Rare

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

vanuatu:

Yes; fines can be issued directly.

Signals

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used in Tonga	Not used in Vanuatu
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Use indicators appropriately	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Tongan; symbols are standard	English; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

vanuatu:

Not used in Vanuatu

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

vanuatu:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

vanuatu:

English; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Tonga		Vanuatu
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited		Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by location; check for signs		Varies; check local regulations and signs

Right Turn On Red

tonga:

Prohibited

vanuatu:

Not typically allowed

U- Turns Allowed

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

vanuatu:

Varies; check local regulations and signs

Documentation

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Insurance	Liability insurance mandatory	Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required; proof may be required	Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory	Recommended but not mandatory

Insurance

tonga:

Liability insurance mandatory

vanuatu:

Third-party insurance mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

vanuatu:

Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

vanuatu:

No standard requirement

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

tonga:

Not mandatory

vanuatu:

Recommended but not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Tonga		Vanuatu
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the left and stop if necessary		Pull to the side and stop, if necessary

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

vanuatu:

Pull to the side and stop, if necessary

Alcohol

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.04%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	Zero tolerance	0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common at specific times or checkpoints	Occasional
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest

Limits: General Drivers

tonga:

0.08%

vanuatu:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

tonga:

0.04%

vanuatu:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

tonga:

Zero tolerance

vanuatu:

0.00% - zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

vanuatu:

Occasional

Enforcement: Fines

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

vanuatu:

Fines can be substantial

Test Refusal

tonga:

Can result in license suspension

vanuatu:

Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

vanuatu:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Contact: General Emergency	911	112
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact local police	112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or local agencies

Contact: General Emergency

tonga:

911

vanuatu:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

tonga:

Contact local police

vanuatu:

112 for general assistance

Contact: Roadside Assistance

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

vanuatu:

Check with your insurance provider or local agencies

Penalties And Fines

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	Tonga	Vanuatu
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police	Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance	Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines for handheld phone use while driving	Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines usually paid immediately	Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline	Immediate payment preferred	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

vanuatu:

Varies; can be significant

Common Fines: Seat Belts

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

vanuatu:

Fines apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

vanuatu:

Fines apply for use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

tonga:

Fines apply

vanuatu:

Fines applicable

Payment: On The Spot

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

vanuatu:

Possible; or through police stations

Payment: Deadline

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred

vanuatu:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay