Driving in Latvia vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the unique driving norms is essential for safe navigation. Comparing Latvia and Nepal reveals striking contrasts: while Latvia drives on the right with strict speed limits and lane regulations, Nepal's left-side driving embraces a more flexible approach to overtaking and road etiquette. Equip yourself with this vital knowledge for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
latvia:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Nepal |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
latvia:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
nepal:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
latvia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Yes, common practice |
| 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
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay