Driving in Finland vs Latvia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Finland and Latvia, it's essential to understand their unique driving regulations and practices. This comparison highlights significant distinctions in speed limits, overtaking rules, and alcohol enforcement, crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your travel experience and promote road safety in both nations.
Lanes
| Finland | 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
finland:
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
finland:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
latvia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
finland:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
Pedestrians Priority
finland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Alcohol
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | 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, typically €85 | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | 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
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days