Samoans to practice left-hand driving

Drivers in Samoa are being given a chance to practice driving on the left hand side of the road.

Samoa’s Transport Control Board has called for all drivers in the country to participate in driver training this week, Radio New Zealand International reports.

The Samoa government’s plan to switch drivers from the right-hand side of roadways to the left prompted a protest march of some 15,000 opponents of the proposal last year.

But the government was unmoved and has set September 7, 2009, as the date the switch is to be made.

The rationale for the new rule is to encourage the import of left-hand-drive cars from New Zealand – where most expatriates live – rather than more expensive right-hand gas guzzlers from the United States.

The roads within the sports complex at Tuana’imato, where the last Pacific Games were held, will be used for the training, with drivers to use their own vehicles.

There have been fears expressed over safety after the Transport Control Board changed all road markings at the sports complex ready for training, without informing the public.