Driving in Cambodia vs. Samoa: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of vehicle operation is essential. This comparison between Cambodia and Samoa reveals key distinctions, such as Cambodia's right-side driving versus Samoa's left-side navigation. Additionally, differing speed limits, road etiquette, and legal requirements highlight the importance of being well-informed for a safe journey in these diverse locales.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cambodia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Signals
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 685-22-222 |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
samoa:
685-22-222
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay