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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
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:
No
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:
No
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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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