Latvia vs New Zealand: Driving Differences You Must Know
Explore the fascinating contrasts between driving in Latvia and New Zealand, where unique regulations and road practices shape the experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Navigate your travels confidently with this insightful comparison!
Lanes
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in New Zealand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | 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
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
latvia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay