Driving in Latvia vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences

Explore the distinctive road regulations and driving cultures of Latvia and Switzerland to enhance your travel safety. Key contrasts include speed limits, overtaking practices, and emergency protocols. Understanding these variations not only promotes safer journeys but also ensures a smoother driving experience in each country. Stay informed and drive with confidence abroad!

latviaswitzerland

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	Switzerland
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
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.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

latvia:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

latvia:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

latvia:

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

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

latvia:

N/A

switzerland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

latvia:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

latvia:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Latvia	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; fines are often issued immediately	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

latvia:

50 km/h

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

90 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

latvia:

100 km/h

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

latvia:

90 km/h

switzerland:

100 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Latvia	Switzerland
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
Traffic Signs: Language	Latvian; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
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

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

switzerland:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Latvia		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Latvia	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual vehicle inspection required	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

switzerland:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Latvia		Switzerland
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings		Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Pedestrians Priority

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

switzerland:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

Alcohol

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	Latvia	Switzerland
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially on weekends	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial, varies based on BAC	Substantial; fines can be based on income

Limits: Professional Drivers

latvia:

0.00%

switzerland:

0.05%

Enforcement: Random Checks

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Roundabouts

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	Latvia		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

latvia:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

latvia:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Latvia	Switzerland
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local services	140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

latvia:

Mandatory

switzerland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Latvia	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	€20 to €40, fines vary	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	€10 to €30, fines vary	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	€30 to €70, points on license	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines can often be settled at the time	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Alcohol

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay