Driving in Australia vs Latvia: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Australia and Latvia reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and strict alcohol policies. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions ensures a smoother and more secure travel experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
latvia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
latvia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
latvia:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
latvia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Latvia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
australia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
latvia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
latvia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | 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 | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days