Driving Differences: Cambodia vs. Latvia Explained
Cambodia and Latvia present intriguing contrasts in their road regulations and driving customs. While Cambodia allows overtaking on multi-lane roads, Latvia enforces stricter lane usages and speed restrictions. Additionally, Latvia mandates reflective vests and emergency equipment, highlighting significant disparities in vehicle safety protocols. Understanding these variations is essential for secure travel in foreign territories.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
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
cambodia:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cambodia:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and 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
cambodia:
N/A
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
cambodia:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
cambodia:
119
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | 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 | Varies; penalties applied | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days