Driving in Germany vs Samoa: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving regulations between Germany and Samoa to enhance your travel safety. Key distinctions include the driving side—right in Germany versus left in Samoa—and significant variations in speed limits and road markings. Understanding these nuances is vital for a smooth and secure driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | 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. Bicycles may be allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | 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
germany:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
germany:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
germany:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | 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 | 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 | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; 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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Germany | 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 for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | 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
germany:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay