Driving in Iceland vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences

When embarking on a journey, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe experience. This comparison between Iceland and Latvia reveals significant contrasts: from overtaking rules to speed limits, and even the handling of emergencies. Grasping these distinctions enhances your confidence and ensures a secure ride in unfamiliar territories.

icelandlatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 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

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	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.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

latvia:

Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

latvia:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

latvia:

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

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	100 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

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

latvia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

latvia:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

latvia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

latvia:

100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

latvia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Latvia
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Triangle-shaped with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

latvia:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland		Latvia
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Mandatory

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

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

latvia:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland		Latvia
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks		Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Pedestrians Priority

iceland:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

latvia:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

latvia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland		Latvia
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

latvia:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

latvia:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

latvia:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Iceland	Latvia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	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	Mandatory; fines apply	€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

iceland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days