Driving Differences: Dominican Republic vs Samoa
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and vehicular norms between the Dominican Republic and Samoa. From driving sides to speed limits and enforcement practices, understanding these variations can significantly enhance your travel experience and ensure safer journeys. Discover how each nation prioritizes road safety in its unique context.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
dominican republic:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
samoa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Samoa |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
samoa:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
samoa:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay