Driving Differences: Indonesia vs Samoa for Safer Travel
Explore the distinct driving practices in Indonesia and Samoa, where road etiquette, speed limits, and signage reveal fascinating contrasts. While Indonesia features solid yellow lane markings and a range of speed limits, Samoa emphasizes strict regulations on alcohol consumption and unique emergency protocols. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travels abroad.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | 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 | 50-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
indonesia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Subject to local laws, fines apply | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay