Driving Differences: Argentina vs. Samoa Explained
When exploring the diverse roads of Argentina and Samoa, understanding their unique driving customs is essential for ensuring a safe journey. From the contrasting sides of the road to varying speed limits, this comparison highlights key distinctions, such as Argentina's right-side driving and Samoa’s left-side approach. Prepare yourself for a safer adventure abroad!
Lanes
| Argentina | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | 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
argentina:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
argentina:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards