In a measure to allow the import of cheaper used cars from New Zealand and Australia, the Samoan government instituted a change in the driving direction for its streets and highways. Over the past two days, which were declared holidays to facilitate the transition, drivers have taken to driving on the left side of the road.

Considered a success, the change in direction came without major incident due to preparations made by the Samoan government, including reducing the speed limit and installing speed bumps. After weathering a series of challenges by opponents, the change will encourage Samoans to import less expensive right-hand driven used cars instead of more expensive American cars, which like the Toyota Yaris, can be obtained in the UK and elsewhere as a right-hand drive model.

The change of sides is a rarity, with the last such change occurring in Ghana and Yemen in the 1970s and before that in Iceland and Sweden in the 1960s. Not without lingering controversy, the nation's bus companies threatened to strike in light of the fact they will have to pay for switching the doors to the opposite side. Samoa currently has approximately 20,000 vehicles on its roads.