Driving in Ireland vs. Latvia: Key Differences Explained
Comparing the road regulations of Ireland and Latvia reveals distinct contrasts that are vital for ensuring safety while navigating abroad. From driving on opposite sides to varied speed limits, these countries showcase unique approaches to traffic management. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
latvia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
latvia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
latvia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ireland:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Not used in Latvia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
latvia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
latvia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Ireland | 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
ireland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; 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
ireland:
0.02%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
ireland:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and 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 | €60 fine and two penalty points | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | 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
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days