Driving in Samoa vs. South Africa: Key Differences Unveiled

Embarking on a journey through Samoa or South Africa? Understanding the nuances of road regulations in each country is essential for a secure driving experience. From speed limits to lane usage, significant contrasts exist, such as South Africa's allowance for right-side overtaking compared to Samoa's strict left-only rules. Drive informed and stay safe abroad!

samoasouth africa

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in samoa is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in samoa is 72

0 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for samoa is 0 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Samoa	South africa
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the centerline on two-way roads.	Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Allowed
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Prohibited unless turning.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
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

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

south africa:

Marks the right edge on roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

samoa:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

south africa:

Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.

Overtaking: On Left

samoa:

south africa:

Allowed

Overtaking: On Right

samoa:

Yes

south africa:

Prohibited unless turning.

Bus Lanes: Presence

samoa:

south africa:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.

Bus Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

samoa:

south africa:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Samoa	South africa
Urban Areas: Standard	25-40 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	55-80 km/h	100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	55-80 km/h	100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	55-80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	Not applicable	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	Not applicable	100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	Not applicable	80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, common in South Africa

Urban Areas: Standard

samoa:

25-40 km/h

south africa:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

samoa:

20 km/h

south africa:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

55-80 km/h

south africa:

100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

samoa:

55-80 km/h

south africa:

100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

55-80 km/h

south africa:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

Not applicable

south africa:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

samoa:

Not applicable

south africa:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

Not applicable

south africa:

80-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

south africa:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

samoa:

Yes

south africa:

Yes, common in South Africa

Signals

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	Samoa	South africa
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Samoa	Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Samoan; symbols are standard	English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular shape with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

south africa:

Not used in South Africa

Traffic Signs: Language

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

south africa:

English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

south africa:

Triangular shape with a red border

Turns

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	Samoa		South africa
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Allowed at designated places; check for signs.

U- Turns Allowed

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

south africa:

Allowed at designated places; check for signs.

Documentation

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	Samoa	South africa
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory	Mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

samoa:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

south africa:

Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

samoa:

Annual inspection required

south africa:

Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

south africa:

Not applicable

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

samoa:

Not mandatory

south africa:

Mandatory

Alcohol

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	Samoa	South africa
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and additional fines

Limits: General Drivers

samoa:

0.08%

south africa:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

south africa:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

samoa:

Common

south africa:

Common; roadblocks are used frequently

Enforcement: Fines

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

south africa:

Substantial; varies based on offense

Test Refusal

samoa:

Can result in license suspension

south africa:

Can result in license suspension and additional fines

Emergency Services

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	Samoa	South africa
Contact: General Emergency	911	112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police	685-22-222	Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

samoa:

911

south africa:

112 or 10111

Contact: Traffic Police

samoa:

685-22-222

south africa:

Call general emergency number

Contact: Roadside Assistance

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

south africa:

Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

south africa:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Samoa	South africa
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license	Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts	ST$100 to ST$200	Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use	ST$50 to ST$300	Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license	Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards	Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

samoa:

Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license

south africa:

Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed

Common Fines: Seat Belts

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

south africa:

Common fine; mandatory use

Common Fines: Phone Use

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

south africa:

Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

south africa:

Fines applicable

Payment: On The Spot

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

south africa:

Yes, common with road checkpoints

Payment: Deadline

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

south africa:

Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay