Driving in Latvia vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Latvia versus Thailand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact safety and experience. Key differences include driving sides, speed limits, and emergency protocols. Understanding these variations ensures a safer journey, whether you're enjoying Latvia's picturesque routes or Thailand's bustling streets.
Lanes
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
Driving Side
latvia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 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 | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | Not used in Thailand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Latvian; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
thailand:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| 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 side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
thailand:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
latvia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
latvia:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days