Driving Differences: Latvia vs. Myanmar Explained
When navigating the roads of Latvia and Myanmar, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can impact their journey. Key disparities include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol thresholds, with Latvia enforcing stricter measures compared to Myanmar. Familiarizing yourself with these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and smooth driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 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
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
myanmar:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
myanmar:
Yes
Signals
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Myanmar |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the 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
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| 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 | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
myanmar:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
latvia:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
myanmar:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| 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
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
myanmar:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay