Driving in Latvia vs. Panama: Key Differences Explained

When exploring the unique driving landscapes of Latvia and Panama, a fascinating array of regulations and practices comes to light. From speed limits to overtaking norms, these two countries reveal striking contrasts in road etiquette and safety measures. Discover how these differences can impact your travel experience and ensure a safe journey abroad.

latviapanama

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	Panama
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 left.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

Overtaking: On Right

latvia:

Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.

panama:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

latvia:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Markings

latvia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

Speeds Limits

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	Latvia	Panama
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-90 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	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

latvia:

50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

latvia:

30 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

90 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

latvia:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

latvia:

80 km/h

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

100 km/h

panama:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

latvia:

90 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

latvia:

80 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

latvia:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Latvia	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Latvia	Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language	Latvian; symbols are standard	Spanish; 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

panama:

Not used in Panama

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

panama:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

latvia:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Language

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Latvia		Panama
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Latvia	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Latvia		Panama
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings		Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

latvia:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Pedestrians Priority

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

panama:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Alcohol

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	Latvia	Panama
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially on weekends	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial, varies based on BAC	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fines	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

latvia:

0.05%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

latvia:

0.00%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

latvia:

0.00%

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

panama:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Latvia	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local services	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Recommended

Contact: General Emergency

latvia:

112

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Latvia	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license	Varies; $50 to $150, 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	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	€10 to €30, fines vary	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€30 to €70, points on license	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines can often be settled at the time	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
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

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

panama:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Payment: Deadline

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay