Driving in Samoa vs. Switzerland: Key Differences Explained

Explore the distinct driving landscapes of Samoa and Switzerland, where varying road rules significantly impact travel experiences. Key disparities include driving sides—left in Samoa and right in Switzerland—and speed limits that differ notably across urban and rural areas. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad.

samoaswitzerland

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	Switzerland
Driving Side	Left	Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the centerline on two-way roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
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

switzerland:

Right

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

samoa:

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

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Left

samoa:

switzerland:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

samoa:

Yes

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

samoa:

Use leftmost lane.

switzerland:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

samoa:

switzerland:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

samoa:

switzerland:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

samoa:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	25-40 km/h	30-50 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	80 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
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

samoa:

25-40 km/h

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

samoa:

20 km/h

switzerland:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

55-80 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

samoa:

55-80 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

55-80 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

Not applicable

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

samoa:

Not applicable

switzerland:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

Not applicable

switzerland:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

samoa:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

samoa:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Samoa	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Samoan; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Samoa		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

samoa:

Not allowed

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
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

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

samoa:

Annual inspection required

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

samoa:

Not mandatory

switzerland:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Samoa		Switzerland
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

switzerland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

samoa:

0.08%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

samoa:

0.02%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

switzerland:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

samoa:

Common

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

samoa:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry	No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting	Signal left when preparing to exit	Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight	Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

samoa:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Signaling: Exiting

samoa:

Signal left when preparing to exit

switzerland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Lane Usage: Right

samoa:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Contact: General Emergency	911	112
Contact: Traffic Police	685-22-222	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory, but recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

samoa:

911

switzerland:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

samoa:

685-22-222

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

samoa:

Not mandatory, but recommended

switzerland:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Samoa	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	ST$100 to ST$200	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	ST$50 to ST$300	CHF 100
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	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

samoa:

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

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay