Driving in Samoa vs Senegal: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of Samoa and Senegal, where road regulations and practices diverge significantly. From driving on different sides of the road to unique speed limits and pedestrian protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring travel security and compliance. Prepare for a safe journey by familiarizing yourself with these vital contrasts.
Lanes
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
senegal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
senegal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
senegal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
senegal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
senegal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 55-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
senegal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
senegal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
senegal:
N/A
Signals
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
samoa:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| 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
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
samoa:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
samoa:
0.02%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
senegal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 17 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
senegal:
17
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days