Driving in Norway vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Norway and Samoa, notable distinctions emerge that impact travelers' experiences. From the varying sides of the road—right in Norway and left in Samoa—to differing speed limits and traffic sign protocols, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safe navigation in either country. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for a stress-free journey abroad.
Lanes
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
samoa:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
norway:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
norway:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | 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
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards