Driving Differences: Canada vs. Samoa Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Samoa, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that affect their travel experiences. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and lane uses, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safety and compliance. Explore the driving landscape of these two nations to prepare for your next adventure.
Lanes
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
canada:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 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 | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 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 | Yes, but varies by province | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
samoa:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
canada:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards