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.

samoavanuatu

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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