Driving Differences: Austria vs Samoa for Safe Travels
When exploring the roads of Austria and Samoa, drivers encounter distinct traffic rules and regulations that significantly impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and the presence of specialized lanes. Familiarizing oneself with these essential variations ensures a safer and more enjoyable journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
austria:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
austria:
Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
austria:
Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
austria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
austria:
Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
austria:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
austria:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
austria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
austria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
austria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
austria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
austria:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 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 | 70-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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; fines may also be mailed. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
austria:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
austria:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
austria:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
70-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
austria:
130 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
austria:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
austria:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
austria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
austria:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
austria:
Common; fines may also be mailed.
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move. | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
austria:
Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
austria:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
austria:
German; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
austria:
Triangular with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
austria:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
austria:
Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
austria:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
austria:
Yes, proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
austria:
Displayed on license plate
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
austria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
austria:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
austria:
0.01%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
austria:
0.01%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
austria:
Substantial; varies by offense
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
austria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ) | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
austria:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
austria:
133
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
austria:
120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
austria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
austria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Austria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license | 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, points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
austria:
Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
austria:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
austria:
Fines apply, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
austria:
Common
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
austria:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay