Driving in Albania vs. Latvia: Key Differences Explained

When navigating the roads of Albania and Latvia, distinct variations in traffic regulations and safety protocols emerge. Key differences include Albania's allowance for overtaking on multi-lane roads, while Latvia maintains stricter bus lane usage. Moreover, speed limits differ notably, impacting roadway conduct in each nation. Understanding these contrasts is essential for drivers seeking safety abroad.

albanialatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in albania is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in albania is 68

1.804 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for albania is 1.804 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Albania	Latvia
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Overtaking: On Right

albania:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

latvia:

Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.

Bus Lanes: Presence

albania:

latvia:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

albania:

N/A

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

albania:

N/A

latvia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Speeds Limits

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	Albania	Latvia
Urban Areas: Standard	40 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	110 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.	Common; fines are often issued immediately

Urban Areas: Standard

albania:

40 km/h

latvia:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

albania:

80 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

albania:

70 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

albania:

70 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

albania:

110 km/h

latvia:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

albania:

90 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

albania:

latvia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

albania:

N/A

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

albania:

Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

Signals

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	Albania	Latvia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Albania	Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian	Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with a red border	Triangle-shaped with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

albania:

Not used in Albania

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

albania:

Signal when exiting

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

albania:

Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

albania:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

Turns

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	Albania		Latvia
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by locality; check for signs		Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Right Turn On Red

albania:

Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

albania:

Varies by locality; check for signs

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Documentation

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	Albania	Latvia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; proof required	Annual vehicle inspection required

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

albania:

Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

albania:

Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

albania:

Mandatory; proof required

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Road Etiquette

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	Albania		Latvia
Flashing Lights: Usage	To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake		To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks		Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Flashing Lights: Usage

albania:

To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake

latvia:

To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake

Pedestrians Priority

albania:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Alcohol

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	Albania	Latvia
Limits: General Drivers	0.01%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during holidays	Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial fines for violations	Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

albania:

0.01%

latvia:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

albania:

0.00%; zero tolerance

latvia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

albania:

Common, especially during holidays

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

Enforcement: Fines

albania:

Substantial fines for violations

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

Test Refusal

albania:

Can result in license suspension

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Emergency Services

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	Albania		Latvia
Contact: Traffic Police	129		Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider		Check with your insurance provider or local services

Contact: Traffic Police

albania:

129

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

albania:

Check with your insurance provider

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Penalties And Fines

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	Albania	Latvia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines over 1,000 ALL	€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use	Varies; potential fines and penalties	€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines over 5,000 ALL	€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene	Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

albania:

Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

albania:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

albania:

Fines over 1,000 ALL

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

Common Fines: Phone Use

albania:

Varies; potential fines and penalties

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

albania:

Fines over 5,000 ALL

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

albania:

Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

Payment: Deadline

albania:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days