Driving Differences: Denmark vs Samoa for Safe Travels
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the distinct driving regulations in Denmark and Samoa is vital for a safe experience. Notably, Denmark drives on the right while Samoa follows the left. Additionally, speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol thresholds significantly differ, highlighting the importance of awareness and adaptability when navigating these unique environments.
Lanes
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
denmark:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
denmark:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
denmark:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
denmark:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
denmark:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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, for minor offenses. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
denmark:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
denmark:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
denmark:
Used before green.
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
samoa:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | 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
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | 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
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
denmark:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
samoa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
denmark:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
denmark:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay