Driving in Samoa vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences

Samoa and Thailand present distinct driving landscapes that every traveler should understand. Key variations include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits, with Samoa favoring more relaxed regulations compared to Thailand's stricter protocols. By familiarizing yourself with these contrasts, you can enhance your safety and navigate the roads with confidence.

samoathailand

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	Thailand
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	Prohibited
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

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

samoa:

Marks the centerline on two-way roads.

thailand:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Overtaking: On Left

samoa:

thailand:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

samoa:

Yes

thailand:

Prohibited

Bus Lanes: Presence

samoa:

thailand:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

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

Cycle Lanes: Presence

samoa:

thailand:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Samoa	Thailand
Urban Areas: Standard	25-40 km/h	50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	20 km/h	50 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	60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	Not applicable	90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	Not applicable	90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	Not applicable	80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Urban Areas: Standard

samoa:

25-40 km/h

thailand:

50-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

samoa:

20 km/h

thailand:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

55-80 km/h

thailand:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

samoa:

55-80 km/h

thailand:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

55-80 km/h

thailand:

60-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

samoa:

Not applicable

thailand:

90-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

samoa:

Not applicable

thailand:

90 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

samoa:

Not applicable

thailand:

80-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

samoa:

N/A

thailand:

N/A

Signals

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	Samoa	Thailand
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Samoa	Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language	English and Samoan; symbols are standard	Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Warning signs are triangular

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

samoa:

Not used in Samoa

thailand:

Not used in Thailand

Traffic Signs: Language

samoa:

English and Samoan; symbols are standard

thailand:

Thai; some signs include English

Traffic Signs: Warning

samoa:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

thailand:

Warning signs are triangular

Turns

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	Samoa		Thailand
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs

U- Turns Allowed

samoa:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

thailand:

Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Samoa		Thailand
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required		Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield		Displayed on windshield after passing inspection

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

samoa:

Annual inspection required

thailand:

Mandatory for registration renewal

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

samoa:

Displayed on windshield

thailand:

Displayed on windshield after passing inspection

Road Etiquette

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	Samoa		Thailand
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the left and stop if necessary		Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

samoa:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

thailand:

Frequent use to alert other drivers

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

samoa:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

thailand:

Pull over to the side and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Samoa	Thailand
Limits: General Drivers	0.08%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

samoa:

0.08%

thailand:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

samoa:

0.02%

thailand:

0.03%

Limits: Underage Drivers

samoa:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

thailand:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

samoa:

Common

thailand:

Common, especially during holidays

Enforcement: Fines

samoa:

Varies; can be substantial

thailand:

Substantial fines and possible imprisonment

Test Refusal

samoa:

Can result in license suspension

thailand:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Samoa		Thailand
Lane Usage: Left	Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe		Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe

Lane Usage: Left

samoa:

Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe

thailand:

Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe

Emergency Services

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	Samoa	Thailand
Contact: General Emergency	911	191
Contact: Traffic Police	685-22-222	1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or local authorities

Contact: General Emergency

samoa:

911

thailand:

191

Contact: Traffic Police

samoa:

685-22-222

thailand:

1193

Contact: Roadside Assistance

samoa:

Check with your insurance provider

thailand:

Check with your insurance provider or local authorities

Penalties And Fines

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	Samoa	Thailand
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license	Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	ST$100 to ST$200	Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use	ST$50 to ST$300	Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	ST$100 to ST$500, points on license	Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards	Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 7 days

Common Fines: Speeding

samoa:

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

thailand:

Varies; fines start from ฿500

Common Fines: Alcohol

samoa:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

thailand:

Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$200

thailand:

Fines up to ฿500

Common Fines: Phone Use

samoa:

ST$50 to ST$300

thailand:

Fines up to ฿500

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

samoa:

ST$100 to ST$500, points on license

thailand:

Fines start from ฿500

Payment: On The Spot

samoa:

Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards

thailand:

Common; fines can be paid at the scene

Payment: Deadline

samoa:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

thailand:

Varies; typically within 7 days