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Source: ONE News -
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Drivers in Samoa will be doing a major about turn early next week when they switch to the other side of the road.
Many have denounced the change as dangerous and costly but some businessmen believe it is the best thing for the island nation.
Fa'aleaga Young Yen never had a car growing up in Samoa but he believes the road switch is going to make cars affordable to more people.
"It narrows the bridge between the rich guys and people like us, the lower class people," he says.
That is because of the difference in freight costs. To ship an American car from Hawaii costs up to four times as much as one from New Zealand.
"Just the freight alone cost me $US3,500 from Hawaii. To send the same car from Samoa to New Zealand $NZ1,400," he says.
He has already shipped 20 vehicles to Samoa for his own rental company and for families keen to buy a cheap car. And he's not alone.
Since last year, Tanupo Aukuso from Apia Motors has noticed a 50% increase in foot traffic - that is people looking at buying and sending cars to Samoa.
"A lot of people looking for taxis. In the past people never had taxis before but they now see an opportunity for their family in Samoa to own a taxi," he says.
But there are concerns that pressure will be put on families who cannot afford it to buy cars to send home.
Mangere Budgeting Service is worried struggling families will go to finance companies and get stuck with huge interest rates.
"If they can't sustain a car here what on God's earth makes you think they can sustain a car that's being transported to family back in Samoa," says Darryl Evans from Mangere Budgeting Service.
Supporters of the road switch say in the long term it will save money. But at what cost remains to be seen.
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