Driving in Latvia vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the distinct road regulations of Latvia and Malta, drivers will uncover vital contrasts that impact their travel experience. From lane usage and speed restrictions to alcohol limits and emergency protocols, understanding these nuances is essential for safe navigation in each country. Prepare for a smoother journey by familiarizing yourself with these key variations.

latviamalta

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in latvia is 71

1.692 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for latvia is 1.692 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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	Latvia	Malta
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left	Yes	No
Overtaking: On Right	Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.	Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.	Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Driving Side

latvia:

Right

malta:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

latvia:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

malta:

Marks the left edge on some divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

latvia:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

malta:

Often used to indicate parking restrictions.

Overtaking: On Left

latvia:

Yes

malta:

Overtaking: On Right

latvia:

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

malta:

Yes

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

latvia:

Use rightmost lane.

malta:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

malta:

Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.

Bus Lanes: Markings

latvia:

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

malta:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

latvia:

Exclusive for bicycles.

malta:

Shared use with caution, marked on roads.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

latvia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

malta:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

latvia:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

N/A

malta:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Latvia	Malta
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	80 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	Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

latvia:

30 km/h

malta:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

90 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

latvia:

80 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

latvia:

80 km/h

malta:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

100 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

latvia:

90 km/h

malta:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

latvia:

Yes

malta:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

malta:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

malta:

Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation

Signals

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	Latvia	Malta
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	Not used in Latvia	Not used in Malta
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Latvian; symbols are standard	English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with red borders	Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

latvia:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

malta:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

malta:

Not used in Malta

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

malta:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

malta:

English and Maltese; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

malta:

Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.

Turns

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	Latvia		Malta
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

malta:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

malta:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Latvia	Malta
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: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Displayed on license plate or windshield.
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

malta:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

malta:

Displayed on license plate or windshield.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

latvia:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Latvia		Malta
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

malta:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

latvia:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

malta:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Latvia	Malta
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially on weekends	Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial, varies based on BAC	Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fines	Can result in license suspension

Limits: Professional Drivers

latvia:

0.00%

malta:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

latvia:

0.00%

malta:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

malta:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

malta:

Reasonably enforced; can be substantial

Test Refusal

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

malta:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Latvia		Malta
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

latvia:

Signal right when preparing to exit

malta:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Latvia	Malta
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies	112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local services	Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Recommended but not mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

malta:

112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

malta:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

latvia:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

malta:

Recommended but not mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Latvia	Malta
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license	Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension	Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€20 to €40, fines vary	Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	€10 to €30, fines vary	Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€30 to €70, points on license	Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines can often be settled at the time	Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days	Varies; typically 15 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

malta:

Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

malta:

Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

malta:

Typically around €50, points may apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

malta:

Typically around €100, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

malta:

Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail

Payment: Deadline

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

malta:

Varies; typically 15 days to pay