Driving Differences: Latvia vs. Romania Explained

When navigating the roads of Latvia and Romania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits, highlighting Romania's stricter approach to drinking and driving. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable driving experience in both countries.

latviaromania

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	Romania
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	Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Not commonly used

Overtaking: On Right

latvia:

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

romania:

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

Cycle Lanes: Presence

latvia:

Yes

romania:

Limited, mainly in urban areas

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

latvia:

N/A

romania:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

N/A

romania:

Not commonly used

Speeds Limits

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	Latvia	Romania
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; fines are often issued immediately	Yes, common practice

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

100 km/h

romania:

130 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

latvia:

90 km/h

romania:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

latvia:

80 km/h

romania:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

latvia:

Yes

romania:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

romania:

Not commonly used

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

romania:

Yes, common practice

Signals

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	Latvia	Romania
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Latvia	Not used in Romania
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; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language	Latvian; symbols are standard	Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with red borders	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

romania:

Not used in Romania

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

romania:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

latvia:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

romania:

Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas

Traffic Signs: Language

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

romania:

Romanian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

romania:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Latvia		Romania
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise		Generally allowed unless signed otherwise

Right Turn On Red

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

romania:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

romania:

Generally allowed unless signed otherwise

Documentation

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	Latvia	Romania
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required	Accepted; 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	Yes, periodic inspections 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

romania:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

romania:

International Driving Permit required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

romania:

Yes, periodic inspections required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

romania:

Displayed on the windshield

Road Etiquette

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	Latvia		Romania
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Moderate use expected
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

romania:

Moderate use expected

Pedestrians Priority

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

romania:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Alcohol

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	Latvia	Romania
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially on weekends	Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial, varies based on BAC	Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fines	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

latvia:

0.05%

romania:

0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits

Enforcement: Random Checks

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

romania:

Common; checkpoints used regularly

Enforcement: Fines

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

romania:

Considerable fines for offenses

Test Refusal

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

romania:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Latvia	Romania
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies	Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local services	Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road

Contact: Traffic Police

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

romania:

Call 112 for police assistance

Contact: Roadside Assistance

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

romania:

Call your insurance provider or a local service

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

latvia:

Mandatory

romania:

Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

romania:

Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road

Penalties And Fines

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	Latvia	Romania
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license	Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension	Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€20 to €40, fines vary	Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use	€10 to €30, fines vary	Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€30 to €70, points on license	Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines can often be settled at the time	Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days	Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment	Possible if fines are not paid	Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist

Common Fines: Speeding

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

romania:

Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit

Common Fines: Alcohol

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

romania:

Hefty fines and possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

romania:

Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers

Common Fines: Phone Use

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

romania:

Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

romania:

Fines applicable; license points may be added

Payment: On The Spot

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

romania:

Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank

Payment: Deadline

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

romania:

Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days

Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment

latvia:

Possible if fines are not paid

romania:

Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist