People pray for safety in "driving on the left"

       Samoans went to church on Sunday to pray that an impending switch to driving on the left will not spark a surge in deaths and injuries on their roads.
       The Pacific Island nation of around 180,000 yesterday would be the first country in the world to change driving sides since the 1970s.
       Bitter political battles over the move have died down since a court late last month overthrew a legal challenge to the switch, and the country has pulled together in a bid to ensure a smooth changeover.
       Thousands in the devout Christian nation went to church on Sunday, praying for a changeover "free of injury and,heaven forbid, death", an editorial in the Samoa Observer newspaper said."All of those who have the safety of our people - and especially our children - in their hearts will echo those prayers by asking the Almighty to calm our tempers and reduce our speed from tomorrow."
       The switch officially took place at 6am local time yesterday.