Driving Safety: Samoa vs. Venezuela - Key Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Samoa and Venezuela. While Samoa drives on the left, Venezuela adheres to the right. Speed limits vary significantly, with Samoa's urban areas set at 25-40 km/h compared to Venezuela's 30-60 km/h. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience in either nation.
Lanes
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
samoa:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
venezuela:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
samoa:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
samoa:
Yes
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
samoa:
No
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 55-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
samoa:
25-40 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
samoa:
20 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
55-80 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
samoa:
55-80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
55-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
samoa:
Not applicable
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
samoa:
Not applicable
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
samoa:
Not applicable
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
samoa:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Signals
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Samoa | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Samoan; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
samoa:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
samoa:
Common
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 685-22-222 | 171 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
samoa:
685-22-222
venezuela:
171
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Samoa | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ST$50 to ST$300 | Fines applicable |
| 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 | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible