Driving Differences: France vs. Samoa Revealed
When comparing the road regulations of France and Samoa, notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for any traveler. From adhering to different sides of the road to varying speed limits and signage, understanding these variations is vital for ensuring your safety and smooth navigation while driving in these two countries.
Lanes
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
france:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
france:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
france:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | 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 | 130 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
france:
Not used in France
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | 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 | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
samoa:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 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
france:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay