Driving Differences: Guatemala vs. Samoa Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Guatemala and Samoa, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Guatemala versus the left in Samoa, and varied speed limits that cater to different vehicle types. Prepare yourself for a driving experience that significantly differs between these two captivating countries.
Lanes
| Guatemala | 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: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
guatemala:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
guatemala:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 70 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
samoa:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Samoa |
| 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Guatemala | 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; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | 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: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
guatemala:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 685-22-222 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
samoa:
685-22-222
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay