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.
Lanes
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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