Driving in Colombia vs Samoa: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of road regulations in Colombia and Samoa is essential. While Colombia drives on the right, Samoa opts for the left. From speed limits to lane usage, exploring these variations can significantly impact your travel experience and ensure a safer adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
colombia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
colombia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
colombia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
samoa:
Common
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards