Driving Differences: Kuwait vs. Latvia for Safe Travel

Kuwait and Latvia present distinct contrasts in their road regulations and driving practices, impacting traveler safety. From speed limits and lane usage rules to documentation requirements for foreign drivers, understanding these variations is crucial. This comparison highlights the unique aspects of navigating the roads in these two countries, ensuring a safer journey abroad.

kuwaitlatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in kuwait is 73

0.34 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for kuwait is 0.34 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

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Overtaking: On Right	Not commonly practiced.	Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage	N/A	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	N/A	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

Overtaking: On Right

kuwait:

Not commonly practiced.

latvia:

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

Bus Lanes: Usage

kuwait:

Reserved for buses.

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

kuwait:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

latvia:

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

Cycle Lanes: Presence

kuwait:

latvia:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Usage

kuwait:

N/A

latvia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

kuwait:

N/A

latvia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

Speeds Limits

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Urban Areas: Standard	45-60 km/h	50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	45 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-120 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70-90 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	80-90 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	Yes	Common; fines are often issued immediately

Urban Areas: Standard

kuwait:

45-60 km/h

latvia:

50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

kuwait:

45 km/h

latvia:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

kuwait:

80-120 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

kuwait:

80-100 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

kuwait:

70-90 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

kuwait:

120 km/h

latvia:

100 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

kuwait:

100 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

kuwait:

80-90 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

kuwait:

latvia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

kuwait:

N/A

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

kuwait:

Yes

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

Signals

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used	Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic	Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with red border	Triangle-shaped with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

kuwait:

Not used

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

kuwait:

Signal when exiting

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

kuwait:

Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

kuwait:

Triangular-shaped with red border

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

Turns

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	Kuwait		Latvia
Right Turn On Red	Prohibited unless signs allow		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Right Turn On Red

kuwait:

Prohibited unless signs allow

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

kuwait:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Documentation

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit required	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	Annual inspection required	Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the vehicle	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

kuwait:

International Driving Permit required

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

kuwait:

International Driving Permit required

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

kuwait:

Annual inspection required

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

kuwait:

Displayed on the vehicle

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

kuwait:

Not mandatory

latvia:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

kuwait:

Not mandatory

latvia:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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

Pedestrians Priority

kuwait:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Alcohol

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Limits: General Drivers	0.00%	0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Less common	Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Significant fines and legal consequences	Substantial, varies based on BAC
Enforcement: Imprisonment	Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving	Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

kuwait:

0.00%

latvia:

0.05%

Enforcement: Random Checks

kuwait:

Less common

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

Enforcement: Fines

kuwait:

Significant fines and legal consequences

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

Enforcement: Imprisonment

kuwait:

Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving

latvia:

Possible for severe offenses

Test Refusal

kuwait:

Can result in license suspension

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Emergency Services

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Contact: Traffic Police	112	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: Traffic Police

kuwait:

112

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

kuwait:

Check with your insurance provider

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

kuwait:

Not mandatory, but recommended

latvia:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

kuwait:

Not mandatory, but recommended

latvia:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Kuwait	Latvia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; may include points on license	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Very severe penalties for any alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines applicable	€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines applicable	€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	Yes, possible	Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 30 days	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

kuwait:

Varies; may include points on license

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

kuwait:

Very severe penalties for any alcohol

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

kuwait:

Fines applicable

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

Common Fines: Phone Use

kuwait:

Fines applicable

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

kuwait:

Fines and points on license

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

kuwait:

Yes, possible

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

Payment: Deadline

kuwait:

Varies; typically within 30 days

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days