road switch: New Road Code

The government of Samoa has printed 5000 new road code booklets, however the department of motor vehicles only had ONE (1).. with some strange anomalies.

First off, even thought the road switch only become an official idea in 2008 - this road code is from "2007" ?? weird eh?

But it was created for left hand driving

The strange thing is that even if they could find the other 4999 copies of the Code, there are over 20,000 drivers in the country, so I guess you have to share with 3 of your buddies.

A big controversy is the bus stop idea, there have never been bus stops in Samoa, when you want to get off the bus you tap the side of the bus with you coins and the drive lets you off at your house. One man was quoted saying " we already have bus stops. At my house! Do I look like I'm going to carry a basket of taro to the bus stop? Well I'm not!"

By far the BEST part of the new code is the drinking and driving section. There was an announcement on the radio the other day informing people that the police would start enforcing the drink driving rules as well as the seat belt rule for the first time on the day of the switch. And to drive home the concept of how dangerous drinking and driving is...