Driving Differences: Albania vs. Samoa Explained
Explore the distinct driving customs of Albania and Samoa, where road rules and regulations vary significantly. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and overtaking norms, understanding these discrepancies is crucial for ensuring safe travels abroad. Discover the essentials that could impact your journey in these two unique nations.
Lanes
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
albania:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
albania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
albania:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
albania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
albania:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
albania:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
albania:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
albania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
albania:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
albania:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
samoa:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
albania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 685-22-222 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
samoa:
685-22-222
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay