Driving Differences: Georgia vs. Samoa Explained
Driving in Georgia and Samoa presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should be aware of. From the contrasting sides of the road to speed limits and lane protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe and responsible travel. Explore the essential variations to stay informed on your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Georgia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
georgia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
georgia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
georgia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
georgia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Georgian; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
georgia:
Not used
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required; proof may be required | 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 | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
georgia:
0.03%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
samoa:
Common
Roundabouts
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
georgia:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
georgia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay