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Source: ONE News -
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Samoan motorists have been getting used to their left from the right as an overhaul of they way they drive took place on Tuesday, and it certainly hasn't been smooth driving all the way.
The government decision to switch has faced strong opposition from the start, even a Supreme Court challenge.
For a brief moment on Tuesday Samoa stood still as the wail of sirens heralded a new era. Then, as hundreds of onlookers watched, the traffic moved off driving on the left for the first time.
ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver is in Samoa, and says when the change happened it was frantic.
"They had to actually stop and wait for ten minutes. There were sirens going and police were directing the traffic and then suddenly it was all go," says Dreaver.
A public holiday has been declared to smooth the transition.
Dreaver says crowds lined the street to watch the change-over and police are continuing to monitor the roads.
"Hundreds and hundreds of people actually came out to witness it. People want to come out and be apart of history."
However, Dreaver adds that some bus drivers are angry at the change because they can't afford to make the necessary changes to their buses and the government is not giving them enough help.
Dreaver says some roads in the village of Salelologa have been blocked by villagers in protest.
Some Samoans, such as James Moeono, appear to think the change is straightforward.
"It's just straightforward, you just drive on the other side," he says.
But it's clear some drivers did not find it that straightforward, forgetting which side of the road they should be on, leaving some drivers panicked.
"I'm panicking already when I see people do that sort of thing," says Janet MacDonald Faumuina.
That is why first aid workers based themselves at major intersections.
While there have been some near misses for the most part it has been trouble free and the police will be on the roads for the next two months making sure it stays that way.
They have spent a lot of their day pulling over confused drivers - even showing them how it should be done, but in some cases it was the police causing confusion.
To add to the mix one village on the island of Savaii used the road switch to air land grievances.
They blocked traffic from getting to the main island but the police were quick on the scene to break it up.
None of it was enough to spoil the Samoan Prime Minister's day in the sun and he has dismissed strike threats from bus owners who say they can't afford to modify their vehicles.
"They are led by former politicians, opposition politicians so, the whole issue is political," he says.
But for Samoa's public it's also personal. It's about keeping themselves and their families safe.
