Driving in Finland vs. Samoa: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the roads of Finland and Samoa, distinct contrasts in driving regulations and practices emerge. Key differences such as driving sides, speed limits, and traffic signaling illustrate the varied approaches to road safety in each nation. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience while abroad.

finlandsamoa

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in finland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Finland	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: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

finland:

Right

samoa:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

finland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

Overtaking: On Left

finland:

Yes

samoa:

Overtaking: On Right

finland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

samoa:

Yes

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

finland:

Use rightmost lane.

samoa:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

finland:

Yes

samoa:

Bus Lanes: Usage

finland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

samoa:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

finland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

finland:

Yes

samoa:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

finland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

finland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

samoa:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

samoa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

samoa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Samoa
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 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	100-120 km/h	Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A

Urban Areas: Standard

finland:

50 km/h

samoa:

25-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

samoa:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

80 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

finland:

80 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

finland:

100 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

samoa:

N/A

Signals

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	Finland	Samoa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Finland		Samoa
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

samoa:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Finland	Samoa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory for certain situations	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

finland:

Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

samoa:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

samoa:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		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

finland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

samoa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Finland	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; checkpoints used	Common
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

finland:

0.05%

samoa:

0.08%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

samoa:

Common

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

samoa:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Finland		Samoa
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

finland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

samoa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Samoa
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

finland:

112

samoa:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

samoa:

685-22-222

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Samoa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

samoa:

Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards