Driving Differences: Morocco vs Samoa Explained
When exploring the roads of Morocco and Samoa, drivers will encounter contrasting regulations and practices that are essential for safe travel. From driving on different sides of the road to varying speed limits and road etiquette, understanding these distinctions is vital to ensure a smooth and secure journey in each destination.
Lanes
| Morocco | 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | 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 | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | 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
morocco:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
morocco:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
morocco:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and 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: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
samoa:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required. | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield. | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 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 at night | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 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
morocco:
19
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards