The Wall Street Journal article ‘Shifting the Right of Way to the Left Leaves Some Samoans Feeling Wronged’ was one of the most read articles on the wsj.com website in 2010. It was interesting to learn that 30% of the world drives on the left side of the road.
Samoa is about to become what’s believed to be the first nation since the 1970s to order its drivers to switch from one side of the road to the other. That’s spawned an islandwide case of road rage. Opponents have organized two of the biggest protests in Samoan history, and a new activist group — People Against Switching Sides, or PASS — has geared up to fight the plan.
So what’s the motivation for the change?
The main reason for Samoa’s switch is that two of its biggest neighbors, Australia and New Zealand, drive on the left-hand side, whereas Samoa currently drives on the right, as in the U.S. By aligning with Australia and New Zealand, the prime minister says, it will be easier for poor Samoans to get cheap hand-me-down cars from the 170,000 or so Samoans who live in those two countries. It could also help more people escape tsunamis, says Mr. Tuilaepa.
Recent protests suggest the issue may not be resolved despite the government’s decision. According to the article, 15,000 people (of a nation with 17,000 left-hand drive cars) rallied against the change.
Collision statistics from Samao will be interesting for 2010.
Tags: Right of Way, Samoa
