Bahrain vs Samoa: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When traveling through Bahrain and Samoa, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is essential for a secure journey. From driving sides—right in Bahrain and left in Samoa—to varied speed limits and overtaking rules, both nations showcase distinct vehicular practices. Stay informed to navigate these differences and enjoy safer travels abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahrain:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
samoa:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
samoa:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
samoa:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
samoa:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
samoa:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | 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
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
samoa:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahrain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay