Driving in Iceland vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the diverse roads of Iceland and Samoa, drivers must adapt to distinct regulations and practices. With Iceland driving on the right and Samoa on the left, key distinctions like speed limits, lane usage, and emergency vehicle protocols are crucial for ensuring road safety. Understanding these variations can enhance your travel experience abroad.

icelandsamoa

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 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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	Iceland	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
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	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: Indications	N/A	N/A

Driving Side

iceland:

Right

samoa:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

iceland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

Overtaking: On Left

iceland:

Yes

samoa:

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

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

samoa:

Yes

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

samoa:

List length: 5

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

iceland:

Use rightmost lane.

samoa:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

samoa:

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

samoa:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

samoa:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

samoa:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	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 on gravel roads	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 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

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

samoa:

25-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

samoa:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

N/A

Signals

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	Iceland	Samoa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

samoa:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

samoa:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Iceland		Samoa
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Iceland	Samoa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Iceland		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

iceland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

samoa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Samoa
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

samoa:

0.08%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

samoa:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Samoa
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

samoa:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

samoa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Samoa
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

samoa:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

samoa:

685-22-222

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Samoa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

samoa:

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

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay