Driving Differences: Estonia vs Latvia Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in automotive regulations and practices between Estonia and Latvia. While both countries prioritize road safety, notable distinctions exist in speed limits, overtaking norms, and alcohol consumption thresholds. This comprehensive comparison will equip travelers with essential insights for safe and smooth journeys across these neighboring Baltic nations.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
latvia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
latvia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
estonia:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Estonia | 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 | Required every year; proof must be carried | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
Pedestrians Priority
estonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Alcohol
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | 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
estonia:
0.02%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
estonia:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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 | Fines apply, points on license | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, 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 must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days