Driving in Portugal vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences

When exploring the roads of Portugal and Samoa, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. From lane usage to speed limits, the contrast between driving on the right in Portugal and the left in Samoa is just the beginning. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.

portugalsamoa

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in portugal is 79

1.83 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for portugal is 1.83 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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	Portugal	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	Prohibited.	Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and taxis.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; 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: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Driving Side

portugal:

Right

samoa:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

portugal:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

Overtaking: On Left

portugal:

Yes

samoa:

Overtaking: On Right

portugal:

Prohibited.

samoa:

Yes

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

portugal:

Use rightmost lane.

samoa:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

portugal:

Yes

samoa:

Bus Lanes: Usage

portugal:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

samoa:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

portugal:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

portugal:

Yes

samoa:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

portugal:

Exclusive for bicycles.

samoa:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

portugal:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

samoa:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

portugal:

N/A

samoa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

portugal:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits.

samoa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Portugal	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	90 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	90 km/h	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Possible	Yes

Urban Areas: Standard

portugal:

50 km/h

samoa:

25-40 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

portugal:

30 km/h

samoa:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

portugal:

90 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

portugal:

80 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

portugal:

70 km/h

samoa:

55-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

portugal:

120 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Buses And Vans

portugal:

100 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

portugal:

90 km/h

samoa:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

portugal:

Yes

samoa:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

portugal:

Electronic signs display current limits

samoa:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

portugal:

Possible

samoa:

Yes

Signals

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	Portugal	Samoa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Portugal	Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language	Portuguese; symbols are standard	English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with white background and red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

portugal:

Not used in Portugal

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

Traffic Signs: Language

portugal:

Portuguese; symbols are standard

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

portugal:

Triangular-shaped with white background and red border

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Portugal		Samoa
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Right Turn On Red

portugal:

Prohibited

samoa:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

portugal:

Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Portugal	Samoa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no additional permit required	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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: E U/ E E A

portugal:

Accepted; no additional permit required

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

portugal:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

portugal:

Periodic inspections required; proof may be required

samoa:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

portugal:

Displayed on the windshield

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

portugal:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

portugal:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Portugal		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

portugal:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

samoa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Portugal	Samoa
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.02%	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during holidays	Common

Limits: General Drivers

portugal:

0.05%

samoa:

0.08%

Limits: Underage Drivers

portugal:

0.02%

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

portugal:

Common, especially during holidays

samoa:

Common

Roundabouts

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

Signaling: Exiting

portugal:

Signal right when preparing to exit

samoa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Portugal	Samoa
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact local authorities	685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or ACP	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

portugal:

112

samoa:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

portugal:

Contact local authorities

samoa:

685-22-222

Contact: Roadside Assistance

portugal:

Check with your insurance provider or ACP

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

portugal:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

portugal:

Mandatory

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Portugal	Samoa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€120 to €600	ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use	€240 to €1,200	ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€120 to €600	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

Common Fines: Speeding

portugal:

Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license

samoa:

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

Common Fines: Seat Belts

portugal:

€120 to €600

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

Common Fines: Phone Use

portugal:

€240 to €1,200

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

portugal:

€120 to €600

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

portugal:

Possible

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards