Driving in Ivory Coast vs Latvia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Ivory Coast and Latvia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their journey. Key contrasts include speed limits, usage of bus lanes, and alcohol tolerance levels. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and smooth experience while driving in these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
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: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
latvia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
ivory coast:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
latvia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| 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 |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
latvia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
ivory coast:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | 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: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, 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 | Varies, points may apply | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days