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Samoans start driving on the left Samoan cars ready to switch sides
(10 minutes later)
Drivers in the South Pacific country of Samoa have switched from driving on the right side of the road to the left after a rule change by the government. Drivers in Samoa in the South Pacific are preparing to switch from driving on the right side of the road to the left after a rule change by the government.
The move survived a late legal appeal by the protest group People Against Switching Sides (Pass), who have argued that it will cause chaos.The move survived a late legal appeal by the protest group People Against Switching Sides (Pass), who have argued that it will cause chaos.
The government brought about the change to bring Samoa into line with other South Pacific nations.The government brought about the change to bring Samoa into line with other South Pacific nations.
It is the first country since the 1970s to bring about such a change.It is the first country since the 1970s to bring about such a change.
The switchover started at 0650 in the morning, when radio messages were broadcast telling drivers to stop and to prepare to overturn 100 years of motoring tradition. The switchover is due to start at 0550 on Monday (1650GMT), when radio messages will broadcast telling drivers to stop and to prepare to overturn 100 years of motoring tradition.
At the top of the hour came a second instruction: to move from the right to the left side of the road. At the top of the hour will follow a second instruction: to move from the right to the left side of the road.
Import driverImport driver
Critics of the plan claim it will bring mayhem to the highways and byways of this remote South Pacific nation.Critics of the plan claim it will bring mayhem to the highways and byways of this remote South Pacific nation.
Cars are going to crash, people are going to die - not to mention the huge expense to our country Tole'afoa Solomona Toa'iloaSamoa lawyer Samoa drivers brace for left turnCars are going to crash, people are going to die - not to mention the huge expense to our country Tole'afoa Solomona Toa'iloaSamoa lawyer Samoa drivers brace for left turn
Bus drivers have also protested that their doors will now open on the wrong side, in the middle of the road.Bus drivers have also protested that their doors will now open on the wrong side, in the middle of the road.
But the Samoan government introduced the change to end its reliance on expensive, left-hand drive imports from America.But the Samoan government introduced the change to end its reliance on expensive, left-hand drive imports from America.
It hopes that Samoan expatriates in Australia and New Zealand will now ship used, more affordable vehicles back to their homeland.It hopes that Samoan expatriates in Australia and New Zealand will now ship used, more affordable vehicles back to their homeland.
To minimise the chaos, a two-day national holiday has been declared to keep cars off the road, and prayers have been said at the country's churches in the hope of blessing the changeover.To minimise the chaos, a two-day national holiday has been declared to keep cars off the road, and prayers have been said at the country's churches in the hope of blessing the changeover.


Are you in Samoa? What do you think about this decision? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.Are you in Samoa? What do you think about this decision? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.
You can also send your pictures and videos of your vehicle or of traffic on the left side of the road to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.You can also send your pictures and videos of your vehicle or of traffic on the left side of the road to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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