Driving in Monaco vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
Discover the fascinating distinctions in road regulations between Monaco and Samoa. While Monaco mandates right-side driving and imposes strict speed limits, Samoa embraces left-side travel with more relaxed urban speed restrictions. Understanding these unique aspects is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
monaco:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Monaco | 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 | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
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
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay