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.

latvianorth macedonia

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	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

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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