Driving in Brazil vs Samoa: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the variances in road rules is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between Brazil and Samoa reveals significant distinctions: while Brazil drives on the right with stringent speed limits, Samoa's left-side driving features relaxed regulations. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can greatly enhance your travel experience and ensure peace of mind on the roads.
Lanes
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | 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
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay