Driving in India vs Latvia: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving landscape of India and Latvia, distinct contrasts emerge that are crucial for road safety abroad. From lane usage to speed regulations, India drives on the left while Latvia adheres to right-side navigation. Understanding these variations can significantly enhance your experience and security on foreign roads.
Lanes
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
latvia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
latvia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 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 | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
latvia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
india:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
latvia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
latvia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
latvia:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| India | 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
latvia:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
latvia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Roundabouts
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
latvia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days