Driving Differences: North Macedonia vs Samoa
Driving in North Macedonia and Samoa presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. Key distinctions include driving on the right in North Macedonia versus the left in Samoa and varying speed limits, particularly in urban settings. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your road safety and overall experience abroad.
Lanes
| North macedonia | 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 typically allowed in North Macedonia. | 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 with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
north macedonia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
north macedonia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
north macedonia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
north macedonia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
north macedonia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| North macedonia | 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 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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 | 80 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
north macedonia:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
north macedonia:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
70 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Samoa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Prohibited in urban areas at night | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to signal other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Macedonian; standard symbols | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
samoa:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
samoa:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
samoa:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless specified by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed when not prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
north macedonia:
Common practice
samoa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| North macedonia | 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 | Conducted at checkpoints | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
north macedonia:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local service providers | 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
north macedonia:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
north macedonia:
192
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| North macedonia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 EUR | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 40 EUR | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 250 EUR, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
north macedonia:
40 EUR
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay