Driving Differences: Tonga vs. Venezuela Explained
When traveling to Tonga or Venezuela, understanding their distinct road regulations is crucial for ensuring safe navigation. Notable contrasts include driving on opposite sides—left in Tonga and right in Venezuela—as well as varying speed limits and vehicle etiquette. Familiarizing yourself with these key distinctions can significantly enhance your experience on both nations' roads.
Lanes
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
tonga:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
tonga:
Often used to separate traffic directions.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
tonga:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
tonga:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
tonga:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No specific highways with designated higher speed limits | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 70-90 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tonga:
40 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
tonga:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
tonga:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
tonga:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
tonga:
No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tonga:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
tonga:
No widespread use
venezuela:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tonga:
Common; paid directly to traffic officers
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Tonga | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Use indicators appropriately | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Tongan; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
tonga:
Not commonly used in Tonga
venezuela:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
tonga:
Use indicators appropriately
venezuela:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
tonga:
English and Tongan; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
tonga:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
tonga:
Prohibited
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
tonga:
Varies by location; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tonga:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tonga:
Required; proof may be required
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
tonga:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tonga:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tonga:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
tonga:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
tonga:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
tonga:
Zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
tonga:
Common at specific times or checkpoints
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
tonga:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
tonga:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 171 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
tonga:
Contact local police
venezuela:
171
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tonga:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Tonga | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for handheld phone use while driving | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines usually paid immediately | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Immediate payment preferred | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
tonga:
Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tonga:
Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
tonga:
Fines for handheld phone use while driving
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tonga:
Fines apply
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
tonga:
Common; fines usually paid immediately
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
tonga:
Immediate payment preferred
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay