Driving in Samoa vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Driving in Samoa and Saudi Arabia reveals striking contrasts that every traveler should understand. From the contrasting sides of the road—left in Samoa and right in Saudi Arabia—to varying speed limits and enforcement of traffic regulations, differences abound. This comparison highlights essential information to ensure your journey remains secure and informed, regardless of your destination.
Lanes
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 55-80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
samoa:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
samoa:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
samoa:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer