Cheap car rental in Latvia - Traffic Safety

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Traffic Safety

TRAFFIC SAFETY/ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Latvia is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:

Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair

Latvia has one of the highest per capita rates of automobile accidents and fatalities in Europe. Drivers should be alert to pedestrians and slow moving vehicles in traffic. Violation of traffic rules is common and it is not unusual to be overtaken by other automobiles, traveling at high speed, even in crowded urban areas. Drivers do not always yield to pedestrians, even at marked intersections. During winter, most major roads are cleared of snow. However, drivers should be alert for fog, snow, and ice while driving. Driving while intoxicated is a very serious offense and carries heavy penalties. Local authorities use roadblocks and Breathalyzer tests as enforcement tools. Drivers and pedestrians should be alert to the possibility of drunk drivers and drunken pedestrians wandering onto the road. Drivers must use their headlights at all times day and night. U.S. driving licenses are not valid in Latvia, and American tourists must possess a valid international driving permit, which can be obtained in the United States from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance.
For more information about road safety and traffic regulations in Latvia, please visit the website of the Latvian Road Safety Administration at http://www.csdd.lv/en/Index.htm. For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road-safety.html. For specific information about Latvian driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Latvian Road Safety Administration or the Latvia Tourist Board at 4 Pils Square, Riga, Latvia, LV 1050, tel. and fax: 371-722-9945, or via the Internet at http://www.latviatourism.lv.