A Driver's Notes: Latvia vs Estonia

Latvia's southern border is separated from Estonia's northern edge by only a couple of hundred kilometres, coverable by car in a few hours. Setting aside the prejudice that everything is better in Estonia than in Latvia - that Latvia has its own "success story" while Estonia has Skype - it would seem that in terms of traffic, the fraternal republic of Estonia should not differ in any way. Having spent several days in Estonia and grown accustomed to its roads and driving culture, on the return journey - re-entering Latvia - there arose an almost irresistible urge to note down a few driving-related peculiarities that, when living here, either slip by unnoticed or simply never occur to one, that things could also be done differently.

Road Surface

In Estonia, roads truly are of better quality, and moreover, wandering through the countryside, it seems that the proportion of asphalt-surfaced roads compared to dirt roads is also considerably higher. In Latvia, driving through, say, Latgale, one noticed the phenomenon of a battered asphalt road running through a village, while immediately beyond its boundaries - a dirt road.

The excuse offered by road maintenance people - that the soil in Estonia is different - is hard to believe, for example when comparing the road surface in Valga (Estonian side) and Valka (Latvian side).

Speed Limit

Whereas in Latvia, driving outside a populated area, doing 110 "counts" as slow - judging by the fact that someone is constantly overtaking you, creating dangerous situations and making traffic nervous and intolerant - in Estonia traffic moves considerably more calmly. In places where the permitted speed is 90 km/h, most people drive at exactly that. Traffic becomes more nervy around Tallinn and Narva. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that Narva has only 10% Estonians. Not far from Narva, a traffic officer with a speed gun was spotted crouching in the bushes.

Estonians also have unmarked police cars. If in Latvia these are Subarus, in Estonia - Škodas. Less pronounced, but still present is the habit of warning of police presence by flashing headlights.

A certain motivation to observe speed limits is also provided by the stiff fines.

In Estonia: up to 20 km/h over - LVL 80; 21–40 - LVL 270; but >40 - LVL 540, arrest or licence withdrawal.
In Latvia (outside populated areas): up to 20 km/h over - LVL 5 or a warning; 31–40 - LVL 40; and only from >60 is the fine LVL 150–300 and licence withdrawal for 3–6 months.

Driving Culture

Very rarely did one notice the behaviours common in Latvia - overtaking, driving in the oncoming lane, overtaking before a hill or bend, "squeezing out" from a side road at a junction without checking the safety of the manoeuvre, failing to signal turns, etc. An unpleasant surprise was Narva-Jõesuu, where drivers reacted quite intolerantly to vehicles pulling out from adjacent areas with poor visibility. A pleasant surprise, on the other hand, was Tartu, where one occasionally had to move into the outer lane shortly before a junction. Despite heavy traffic, drivers very frequently slowed down and allowed the manoeuvre.

Roundabout

Here and there (near Tartu) roundabouts were noticed in which - judging by the painted markings - the outer lane is intended only for turning off, while the middle and other lanes are for going straight ahead. This is not everywhere. The comparison with Latvia brings to mind the Dreiliņi roundabout.

Road Works

As with any road works, in Estonia too they are accompanied by speed restrictions. However, there was no such absurdity as speed-restricting signs being "forgotten" for dozens of kilometres after the completion of road works. I understand that "by law" a road is handed over once the road markings are painted and signs are in place, but unfortunately in Latvia, drivers are expected to show admirable patience - crawling at 70 or even 50 along a smooth and clearly visible road for tens of kilometres.

It is possible that in Estonia road works are carried out in shorter sections.

In Latvia, such a road works masterpiece could be enjoyed a few years ago on the road section past Krustpils towards Rēzekne. This year - on the section between Valmiera and Ragana. In places where the road is clearly visible, the speed limit is 70 km/h; in places where the road is potholed and the markings worn away - 90 km/h again, then 70 km/h again, and so on.

Speed Cameras

Fixed speed cameras in Estonia are distributed more or less evenly across the whole country. More frequently on roads with heavy traffic, while on the road section between Tartu and Jõhvi they appeared to be almost entirely absent. Before a fixed camera a sign is posted. Not every camera housing contains a camera, but if it does, a fine is issued from +7 km/h above the limit. I have no idea how these issue fines to Latvian-registered cars, and even less so to Russian ones.

In Latvia, meanwhile, although the speed camera saga ended in failure, the signs remained. For example on Brīvības Avenue from Jugla towards the centre, on G. Zemgalis Avenue. Signs on roads should be cautionary or informative, not just put there for no reason.

Car Parks

In larger cities such as Pärnu, Tallinn and Tartu there are paid car parks. How much they cost - I don't know, as coin-operated machines on the roadsides are practically non-existent and all payments are made by SMS. There are also Europark car parks with instructions in Estonian only. What is equally pleasant is that a few metres away there was often a spot where one could leave the car for free as well.

A special case is Estonia's equivalent of Jūrmala - Narva-Jõesuu. Unlike Jūrmala, entry there is free, but leaving your car costs EUR 2.50 per day. There is no free parking; many people park outside the town boundaries, while the more brazen ones park on lawns and even in public squares between trees. Parking cards can be purchased in shops and hotels. We found this out, of course, only when we had already returned. :)

Settlement Sign and 70

A pleasant surprise was that the settlement sign (a town silhouette on a white background) is twice the size as in Latvia, but without the name of the town written on it. Also pleasant is that before the beginning of a settlement there is often a speed limit sign showing 70. It is quite convenient to reduce speed to 70 km/h and then to 50 km/h - as opposed to noticing the white sign at the last moment and braking sharply.

Fuel

The petrol price in Estonia was EUR 1.325 (or LVL 0.93), while in Latvia - LVL 0.968. Moreover, in Estonia the vehicle use tax (road tax) is included in the fuel price, but in Latvia (depending on weight) it is paid separately at approximately LVL 100 per year.

I have driven comparatively little in other countries, so I will not venture to compare with those. Compared to Estonia, traffic in Latvia could be described as quite nervous, intolerant and often aggressive. Possibly, driving characteristics reflect to some extent a nation's mentality - the desire to cause a commotion, nervousness, to demonstrate intolerance and disrespect, which on the whole brings no benefit whatsoever.