Driving in Latvia vs. Singapore: Key Differences Revealed
When considering road travel in Latvia versus Singapore, crucial distinctions emerge that can significantly impact your journey. From lane usage and speed limits to documentation requirements and road etiquette, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel. Explore these driving nuances to navigate each country confidently.
Lanes
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Singapore |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
singapore:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Display not required |
| 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
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
latvia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay