Driving Differences: Latvia vs. Samoa for Safe Travels
When exploring the roads of Latvia and Samoa, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key contrasts include the side of the road for navigation—right in Latvia versus left in Samoa—and differing speed limits and rules regarding overtaking. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each country.
Lanes
| Latvia | 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 | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | 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 | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Samoa |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
samoa:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
samoa:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | 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 on weekends | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
latvia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay