Samoa vs Vanuatu: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring driving practices in Samoa and Vanuatu, distinct variations emerge that affect road safety and navigation. While Samoa adheres to left-side motoring, Vanuatu opts for the right. Speed limits, overtaking rules, and signaling protocols further highlight these contrasts, ensuring that travelers are well-informed for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 55-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
samoa:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
samoa:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
samoa:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Insurance
samoa:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
samoa:
Annual inspection required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: General Drivers
samoa:
0.08%
vanuatu:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
samoa:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
Contact: General Emergency
samoa:
911
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ST$100 to ST$200 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | Fines apply for use while driving |
| 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 | Possible; or through police stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations