8 Dec 2015

Samoa to join New Zealand and Australia on road intersection rule

8:39 am on 8 December 2015

Samoa is to begin using the new road intersection rule of giving way to the left, in September 2016.

A road in Samoa

A road in Samoa Photo: AFP

Samoa is still using the old rule of giving way to the right since switching to driving on the left hand side of the road was implemented six years ago.

The assistant executive officer of the Samoa Land Transport Authority, Mata'afa Sepelini, says the change will benefit people who abide by the same rule currently used in New Zealand and Australia.

He says drivers from those countries will be using it when they come to Samoa for holidays or business.

Meanwhile, the Land Transport Authority in Samoa has also announced the approval by Cabinet of implementing taxi meters in September next year and the lifting of the ban on wooden buses to be effective again in January 2016.

Sepelini says the LTA hopes the introduction of taxi meters will avoid overcharging passengers.

He says the lifting of the ban on building wooden buses will not only attract tourists, but maintain Samoa's public transport icon.

The building of wooden buses had been banned since switching to driving on the left hand side of the road was implemented in September 2009.