Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Samoa
Exploring the roads of El Salvador and Samoa reveals significant contrasts in traffic regulations and practices. From driving sides to speed limits, these nations present unique challenges for travelers. While El Salvador adheres to right-hand driving, Samoa follows the left. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
el salvador:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
el salvador:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 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 | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 annual inspection | 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay