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Getting There By Road
Road conditions in Latvia are variable and, while most main roads are of a fairly good standard, some minor roads become muddy bogs during heavy rainfall or snowmelt. Main routes in Latvia are designated by a number. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in towns, 70kph (43mph) in suburban areas, 90kph (56mph) on open roads and 110kph (68mph) on motorways. Driving in Latvia is on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Foreigners driving their own vehicles are required to carry a national licence, an International Driving Permit, proof of third-party insurance – such as the international Green Card – and registration documents, at all times. It is compulsory to wear seatbelts and fines for minor offences, such as speeding, are given on the spot – a receipt should be issued. Drink driving is illegal and the legal alcohol to blood limit for driving is zero. It is also illegal for drivers to use handheld mobile telephones while driving. From the beginning of October to the beginning of April, it is compulsory to drive with vehicle lights switched on.
The Auto-Moto Society of Latvia – LAMB (tel: 732 5111; e-mail: lamb@lamb.lv; website: www.lamb.lv) provides further information.
Emergency breakdown service:
Riga Autostavietas 737 4611
Routes to the city: The main transit corridors to Riga are the north–south Via Baltica, which runs from Tallinn to Warsaw through Riga, Vilnius and Kaunas, and Via Hanseatica, which runs from Berlin to Riga through Gdansk, Kaliningrad and Siauliai. Corridors also run east–west, linking Riga to Moscow, Ventspils, Liepaja, Vitebsc and Pskow. The A2 northeast from Riga leads to Cesis.
Approximate driving times to Riga: From Cesis – 1 hour 45 minutes; Vilnius – 5 hours; Tallinn – 5 hours 30 minutes.
Coach services: Passenger facilities at Riga’s coach station (Autoosta), Pragas 1 (tel: 900 0009 – calls charged at a premium rate), include an ATM, bureau de change, café, left-luggage, pharmacy, shops, taxi park and barber shop. The bus station operates both international and domestic services. Tickets to all international destinations can be purchased at the ticket offices in the bus terminal. Reputable operators include the main state motor firm, Nordeka (tel: 746 4620), which operates regular long-distance and international services, as well as Autostars (tel: 731 1810), for services to Kiev, Moscow and Western European cities, and Eurolines (tel: 721 4080; fax: 750 3134), for services to Berlin, Bremen, Kiel, Warsaw, Prague, Vilnius, Tallinn, Munich, Kaliningrad, Cologne and London. Eurolines generally has the most modern and comfortable buses, with luxurious double-deckers now plying the Tallinn route.
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