Driving in Bolivia vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Bolivia and Samoa, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. With contrasting rules such as driving on the right versus the left, varying speed limits, and unique overtaking conventions, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and smooth journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | 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 | 80-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 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 |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
samoa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Samoa |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
samoa:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bolivia | 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 | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | 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
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | 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
bolivia:
110
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in 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 may apply, varies by location | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay