Driving Differences: Indonesia vs Latvia Revealed
When navigating the roads in Indonesia and Latvia, understanding the nuances of their driving customs is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage that can significantly impact your experience. Discover the essential distinctions to stay secure while exploring these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
indonesia:
Left
latvia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
indonesia:
No
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
indonesia:
Yes
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
indonesia:
Limited
latvia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
indonesia:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Indonesia | 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 | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
latvia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
indonesia:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
indonesia:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
indonesia:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
indonesia:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
indonesia:
Common
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Indonesia | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
indonesia:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Forbidden unless a sign permits it | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Indonesia | 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 required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic checks required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Evidence of inspection may be displayed | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and make room | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
indonesia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
indonesia:
Give way and make room
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
indonesia:
0.05%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
indonesia:
Common
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local emergency numbers | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in case of breakdown | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
indonesia:
112 or 110
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Indonesia | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; subject to local laws | 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 | Subject to local laws, fines apply | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, enforced rigorously | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days