Driving in Samoa vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
Samoa and Tunisia present unique driving landscapes, each with distinct regulations that affect road safety and navigation. Notably, Samoa drives on the left side, while Tunisia adheres to right-side travel. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage vary significantly, highlighting the need for awareness when traversing these diverse terrains.
Lanes
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Signals
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
samoa:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof may be required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
samoa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
samoa:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
samoa:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay