Driving Differences: Latvia vs North Macedonia Explained
When navigating the roads of Latvia and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Notable differences include speed limits, overtaking rules, and documentation requirements. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe and responsible driving in each country, allowing for a smoother journey abroad.
Lanes
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 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 |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
latvia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
north macedonia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
latvia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
latvia:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
latvia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
latvia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
north macedonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Alcohol
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local service providers |
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, 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 | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay