Driving in Ireland vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinctive aspects of road usage in Ireland and Samoa to enhance your travel experience. While both nations share traffic regulations, notable contrasts exist, such as speed limits and lane markings. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad. Dive into the specifics to drive confidently in either country!
Lanes
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
samoa:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ireland:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ireland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ireland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | 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 | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
samoa:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
ireland:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
samoa:
Common
Roundabouts
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ireland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €60 fine and two penalty points | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards