Driving in Brunei vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for ensuring a smooth experience. In this comparison between Brunei and Latvia, we uncover significant distinctions such as driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. By familiarizing yourself with these key variations, you can enhance your safety and confidence while navigating unfamiliar terrains.
Lanes
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed 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: 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
brunei:
Left
latvia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed 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
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
latvia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brunei:
40 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay; English used for important signs | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brunei:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brunei:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
brunei:
Not allowed
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | 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
brunei:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
brunei:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | 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 | B$150 | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brunei:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days