Like the rest of the United States, American Samoa drives on the right side of the road, and their driver's wheel is on the left side of the car.
Here are the important road rules to know in AMERICAN Samoa:
- Seatbelts for all passengers are mandatory
- Speed limit is 25 MPH on the open road, and 15 MPH in busy areas
- Cannot use your cell phone while driving unless you have a hands free device.
- When approaching an intersection, the car to the left must yield to the car on the right.
- Signs are the same as US signage
- Cant drive on the sidewalk
- No coasting in neutral (to save gas)
- No littering by anyone in the car.
- Some roads traverse streams. You cannot enter a stream if you cannot see the roadbed.
- Night driving can be dangerous and should be avoided. (No street lights)
Driving in Samoa
In 2009, the country of Samoa switched over to driving on the left side of the road, like their close friend and trading partners Australia and New Zealand. The cars in Samoa are a mixture of right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive, although most of the new cars are right-hand-drive.
It is supposed to be a little disorienting, but not too difficult to navigate, as the speed limit is so slow you get used to it. Here is a picture taken by Rhonda Albom of a typical road in Samoa once your get out of Apia. This is near the Malua Cave Pool, I believe, on the way to Sauniatu.
You need a Samoan Driver's License, which will be issued by our car rental company. Please bring your local (US) drivers license. You will fill out a form, then pay $21, and you will get your Samoan license on the spot. Our car rental agency in Samoa (Samoana Car Rentals) knows that we are planning on getting 3 drivers licenses and will accommodate our request when we pick up our rental cars.
If you hit a pig or chicken on the road, drive straight on through to the next police station and let them handle it. Do not stop and attempt to negotiate with angry local villagers, but know that a size 2 pig costs WST110 ($50). Yes, you killed their to'onai, but why did they have it running loose? Now you have to pay car rental charges to fix the car. Of course, stop immediately if you hit a pedestrian. Finally, no one cares if you hit a dog. (!)
Speed limit in Samoa is 40 KPH on the open road and 25 KPH in the villages. And don't be doing donuts on the malae during Sa. Sa (evening prayer) happens right as the sun drops over the horizon. If you are driving or walking in a village at this time, stop, sit and murmer quietly in respect.
Here is a vid of driving in Samoa. It's neither busy nor complex.
Informal Road Rules:
- Take caution to avoid the people, children, pigs, dogs, and chickens in the road.
- When approaching a pedestrian (from behind), tap briefly on the horn.
- When passing another automobile, tap once on the horn before proceeding. After completing the pass, tap twice to thank the other driver, and he will respond with a single horn tap.
As a driver, you are responsible to walk all around your car and note any dings or scratches. Do not forget to look underneath the carriage of the car for damage underneath. Take pictures of any damage you see on the car. Then inspect the car daily.
African Snail Spraying
Prior to driving your car onto the ferry to Savaii, you must stop at the spray station about 300 yards from the ferry landing at Mulifanua Wharf. You drive slow and they spray your car's undercarriage to prevent the spread of the African snail. This spraying is free.