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Samoan cars ready to switch sides | |
(10 minutes later) | |
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 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 will follow a second instruction: to move from the right to the left side of the road. | |
Import driver | Import 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 turn | 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 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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