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.

finlandlatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in finland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

latvia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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