Driving Differences: Latvia vs. Sri Lanka Explained
When planning your travels, understanding the unique driving regulations in Latvia and Sri Lanka is essential for ensuring your well-being on the roads. Notable distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and distinct lane usage practices. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial aspects can significantly enhance your safety and create a smoother journey abroad.
Lanes
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
latvia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
latvia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
latvia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
latvia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
latvia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Hand Signals: Common Usage
latvia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit required |
| 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, proof 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
latvia:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay