Driving in Guatemala vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences

When exploring the roads of Guatemala and Latvia, understanding the distinct driving regulations and customs can significantly enhance your safety and experience. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and traffic sign languages. Discover how these differences shape the driving landscape in each country, ensuring a smoother journey abroad.

guatemalalatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in guatemala is 63

1.087 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for guatemala is 1.087 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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	Guatemala	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	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	Limited	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Shared with vehicles in some areas.	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Varies by location.	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

Overtaking: On Right

guatemala:

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

guatemala:

latvia:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

guatemala:

N/A

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

guatemala:

N/A

latvia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

guatemala:

Limited

latvia:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

guatemala:

Shared with vehicles in some areas.

latvia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

guatemala:

Varies by location.

latvia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

Speeds Limits

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Urban Areas: Standard	40-60 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Limited use	Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, common practice	Common; fines are often issued immediately

Urban Areas: Standard

guatemala:

40-60 km/h

latvia:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

guatemala:

80 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

guatemala:

70 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

guatemala:

70 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

guatemala:

latvia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

guatemala:

N/A

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

guatemala:

Limited use

latvia:

Yes

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

guatemala:

Yes, common practice

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

Signals

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Guatemala	Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
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

guatemala:

Not used in Guatemala

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

guatemala:

Signal when exiting

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

guatemala:

Spanish; symbols are standard

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

guatemala:

Triangle-shaped with red border

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

Turns

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	Guatemala		Latvia
Right Turn On Red	Varies, check local signs for permission		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by location; check for signs		Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Right Turn On Red

guatemala:

Varies, check local signs for permission

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

guatemala:

Varies by location; check for signs

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Documentation

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; proof may be required	Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the vehicle	Displayed on windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

guatemala:

International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

guatemala:

International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

guatemala:

Mandatory; proof may be required

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

guatemala:

Displayed on the vehicle

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

Road Etiquette

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	Guatemala		Latvia
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	More 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

guatemala:

More frequent use compared to some countries

latvia:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Pedestrians Priority

guatemala:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Alcohol

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially at night	Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Varies by locality; can be substantial	Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Enforcement: Random Checks

guatemala:

Common, especially at night

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

Enforcement: Fines

guatemala:

Varies by locality; can be substantial

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

Test Refusal

guatemala:

Can result in license suspension

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Emergency Services

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Contact: General Emergency	122	112
Contact: Traffic Police	110	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or local services

Contact: General Emergency

guatemala:

122

latvia:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

guatemala:

110

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

guatemala:

Check with your insurance provider

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Penalties And Fines

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	Guatemala	Latvia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; 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	Fines imposed	€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines imposed	€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Substantial fines	€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, often required	Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline	Varies; check with local authorities	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

guatemala:

Varies; substantial fines

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

guatemala:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

guatemala:

Fines imposed

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

Common Fines: Phone Use

guatemala:

Fines imposed

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

guatemala:

Substantial fines

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

guatemala:

Yes, often required

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

Payment: Deadline

guatemala:

Varies; check with local authorities

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days