Driving in Latvia vs. Malaysia: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Latvia and Malaysia, distinct contrasts emerge. From the side of the road you drive on to speed limits and overtaking practices, each nation has its unique rules. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe navigation and compliance while traveling in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
latvia:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Malaysia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
malaysia:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
malaysia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
latvia:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay