Driving in Russia vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
Traveling from Russia to Samoa? Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations and vehicular norms that shape your journey. With Russia favoring right-side driving and stricter speed limits, while Samoa adopts a left-side approach with relaxed enforcement, understanding these key distinctions is vital for ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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 with specific road signs or markings. | 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
russia:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
russia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
russia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
russia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
russia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
russia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
russia:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
samoa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Russian; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
russia:
Not used in Russia
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Russia | 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
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in cities | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
russia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
russia:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
samoa:
Common
Roundabouts
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 685-22-222 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
russia:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
samoa:
685-22-222
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
russia:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay