Driving Differences: Samoa vs. Serbia Explained
Samoa and Serbia showcase distinct regulatory frameworks and practices on the road, influencing driver conduct and safety. Key variances include driving sides, speed limits, and the presence of specialized lanes. Understanding these nuances is crucial for an enjoyable and secure driving experience when navigating each country.
Lanes
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
samoa:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 55-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
samoa:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
samoa:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| 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; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
samoa:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
samoa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay