Driving Differences: Samoa vs. Slovakia Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for safe travel. This comparison between Samoa and Slovakia reveals striking distinctions: while Samoa drives on the left and has relaxed speed limits, Slovakia adheres to stricter regulations with right-side driving and comprehensive road markings. Equip yourself with this knowledge for a secure journey!
Lanes
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
slovakia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
slovakia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
samoa:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 55-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 90 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
slovakia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
slovakia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
slovakia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
samoa:
No
slovakia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Signals
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used in Slovakia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Documentation
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory
slovakia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
samoa:
0.02%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
slovakia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
slovakia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
slovakia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay