Driving in the Philippines vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of the Philippines and Samoa, drivers encounter notable contrasts that could impact their journey. From the side of the road they drive on—right in the Philippines versus left in Samoa—to varying speed limits and unique road etiquette, understanding these distinctions is crucial for enhancing travel safety abroad. Stay informed for a secure driving experience!

philippinessamoa

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in philippines is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in philippines is 71

1.159 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for philippines is 1.159 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Philippines	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	Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.	Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with motorcycles or 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 occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	N/A

Driving Side

philippines:

Right

samoa:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

philippines:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

Overtaking: On Left

philippines:

Yes

samoa:

Overtaking: On Right

philippines:

Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.

samoa:

Yes

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

philippines:

Use rightmost lane.

samoa:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

samoa:

Bus Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.

samoa:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

samoa:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

philippines:

Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

philippines:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

samoa:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

philippines:

Yes

samoa:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

philippines:

Minimum two occupants

samoa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

samoa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Philippines	Samoa
Urban Areas: Standard	40 kph	25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20 kph	20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 kph	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 kph	55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	50 kph	55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 kph	Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans	80 kph	Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 kph	Not applicable
Speed Units	kph	km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Not commonly used	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Less common; fines are usually issued later	Yes

Urban Areas: Standard

philippines:

40 kph

samoa:

25-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

philippines:

20 kph

samoa:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

80 kph

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

philippines:

70 kph

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

50 kph

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

philippines:

100 kph

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

philippines:

80 kph

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

philippines:

80 kph

samoa:

Not applicable

Speed Units

philippines:

kph

samoa:

km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

philippines:

Not commonly used

samoa:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

philippines:

Less common; fines are usually issued later

samoa:

Yes

Signals

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	Philippines	Samoa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Filipino; symbols are standard	English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

philippines:

Not used

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

Traffic Signs: Language

philippines:

English and Filipino; symbols are standard

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

philippines:

Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Philippines		Samoa
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Common, check for signs indicating restrictions		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

philippines:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

samoa:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

philippines:

Common, check for signs indicating restrictions

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Philippines	Samoa
Insurance	Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory	Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Required for registration; certificate must be displayed	Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory, but recommended	Not mandatory

Insurance

philippines:

Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory

samoa:

Liability insurance mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

philippines:

Required for registration; certificate must be displayed

samoa:

Annual inspection required

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

philippines:

Not mandatory, but recommended

samoa:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Philippines		Samoa
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users		Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

philippines:

Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users

samoa:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

philippines:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

samoa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Philippines	Samoa
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.05%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.05%	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays	Common
Enforcement: Fines	Severe for violations, may include imprisonment	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

samoa:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

samoa:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

philippines:

0.05%

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

philippines:

Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays

samoa:

Common

Enforcement: Fines

philippines:

Severe for violations, may include imprisonment

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Philippines		Samoa
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

philippines:

Signal right when preparing to exit

samoa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Philippines	Samoa
Contact: Traffic Police	117	685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or AAA	Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

philippines:

117

samoa:

685-22-222

Contact: Roadside Assistance

philippines:

Check with your insurance provider or AAA

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

philippines:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Philippines	Samoa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	PHP 300	ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use	PHP 1000 to PHP 5000	ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	PHP 1000	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline	Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

philippines:

Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000

samoa:

Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

philippines:

PHP 300

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

Common Fines: Phone Use

philippines:

PHP 1000 to PHP 5000

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

philippines:

PHP 1000

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

philippines:

Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

Payment: Deadline

philippines:

Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay