Driving in Bhutan vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Bhutan and Latvia, significant contrasts emerge that are crucial for safe navigation. In Bhutan, driving occurs on the left, while in Latvia, it's on the right. Speed limits and lane practices vary greatly, reflecting distinct cultural norms and safety protocols in each country. Understanding these variances is essential for all travelers.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
latvia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
latvia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bhutan:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days