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!
Lanes
| 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:
No
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:
No
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:
No
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:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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