Driving Differences: Australia vs. Samoa

When navigating the roads of Australia and Samoa, drivers must be aware of significant distinctions that impact their travel experience. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol regulations, each country has unique rules that ensure safe journeys. Understanding these contrasts will help travelers adapt to unfamiliar conditions while prioritizing their well-being on the road.

australiasamoa

LEFT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in australia is 87

1.032 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for australia is 1.032 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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	Australia	Samoa
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.	Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left	Allowed	No
Overtaking: On Right	Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.	Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.	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: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or more occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

australia:

Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

australia:

Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.

samoa:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Left

australia:

Allowed

samoa:

Overtaking: On Right

australia:

Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.

samoa:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

samoa:

Bus Lanes: Usage

australia:

Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.

samoa:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

australia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

samoa:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

australia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

australia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

samoa:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

australia:

Yes

samoa:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

australia:

Minimum two or more occupants

samoa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

australia:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

australia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

samoa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Australia	Samoa
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	40 km/h	20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-110 km/h	Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans	100-110 km/h	Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90-100 km/h	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; may vary by area.	Yes

Urban Areas: Standard

australia:

50 km/h

samoa:

25-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

australia:

40 km/h

samoa:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

australia:

80-100 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

australia:

80-100 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

australia:

80-100 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

australia:

100-110 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

australia:

100-110 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

australia:

90-100 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

australia:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

australia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

samoa:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

australia:

Common; may vary by area.

samoa:

Yes

Signals

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	Australia	Samoa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used.	Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	English; symbols are standard	English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

australia:

Not commonly used.

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

australia:

Signal when entering and exiting

samoa:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

australia:

English; symbols are standard

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Australia		Samoa
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed, except where signage permits.		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs.		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

australia:

Not allowed, except where signage permits.

samoa:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

australia:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs.

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Australia	Samoa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Varies by state; proof may be required	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states	Displayed on windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

australia:

Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

australia:

Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

australia:

Varies by state; proof may be required

samoa:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

australia:

Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

Alcohol

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	Australia	Samoa
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; roadside breath testing often conducted	Common
Enforcement: Fines	Varies by state; can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

australia:

0.05%

samoa:

0.08%

Limits: Underage Drivers

australia:

0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

australia:

Common; roadside breath testing often conducted

samoa:

Common

Enforcement: Fines

australia:

Varies by state; can be substantial

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Australia		Samoa
Signaling: Entering	Signal right if intending to turn immediately		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left	Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe		Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

Signaling: Entering

australia:

Signal right if intending to turn immediately

samoa:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Lane Usage: Left

australia:

Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe

samoa:

Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

Emergency Services

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	Australia	Samoa
Contact: General Emergency	000	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies by state; contact local police	685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or NRMA	Check with your insurance provider

Contact: General Emergency

australia:

000

samoa:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

australia:

Varies by state; contact local police

samoa:

685-22-222

Contact: Roadside Assistance

australia:

Check with your insurance provider or NRMA

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

Penalties And Fines

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	Australia	Samoa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible	ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use	AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible	ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; varies by jurisdiction.	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

australia:

Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible

samoa:

Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

australia:

AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

Common Fines: Phone Use

australia:

AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

australia:

AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

australia:

Yes; varies by jurisdiction.

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

Payment: Deadline

australia:

Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay