Driving in Costa Rica vs. Latvia: Key Differences Explained
Costa Rica and Latvia present intriguing contrasts in their road regulations and driving customs. While overtaking is permitted on multi-lane roads in Costa Rica, Latvians typically adhere to more cautious practices. Additionally, speed limits vary significantly, with Latvia favoring higher rates, emphasizing the importance of understanding these variations to ensure safe travels abroad.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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 | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
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
costa rica:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
latvia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
latvia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
costa rica:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
latvia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Costa rica | 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: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
costa rica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days