Driving Differences: Ghana vs Latvia for Safe Travels
Driving in Ghana and Latvia presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should be aware of. Key distinctions include speed limits, the presence of dedicated bus and cycle lanes, and varying alcohol limits for drivers. Understanding these critical factors can significantly enhance your safety and confidence while navigating unfamiliar roads.
Lanes
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | 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 | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
latvia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ghana:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ghana:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Ghana | 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 | Mandatory | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | 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
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ghana:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Alcohol
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
ghana:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ghana:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | 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 | Moderate fines | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | 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
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days