The Madness of Eastern Europe

Off-topic
1

I’m so proud. Actually, I know I shouldn’t be and that I’m a danger to society, but I’ve just received my first European speeding ticket.

Over the weekend I was in Latvia driving a wee VW Polo between the cities of Riga and Valmiera. Part of this journey is on lovely dual carriageway, two lanes each way and separated by a wide nature strip. There were no obvious speed limit signs. So I assumed it was probably a 70mph zone. Of course, in Latvia they work in kilometres not miles.

Flashing blue lights in the rear view mirror and flashing headlights. I pull over and Mr Latvian Policeman informs me that I was travelling at 128kmph (79mph) in a 90kmph (55mph) zone. What?!??! Apparently the Latvian national speed limit is 90 kilometres per hour.

Being a good global citizen I present my Australian driving licence. Ho hum, that caused a little confusion. Car insurance documents? I gave over everything the rental company had given me, written of course in Latvian, but apparently the insurance document was not amongst them.

Long story short, for such excessive speed my penalty was 30LVL (equivalent of £30!!). I can pay over the counter at most banks apparently. Uhuh. Given that the average monthly salary in Latvia is about 250LVL I guess a 30LVL fine is pretty stiff. Still, I was well chuffed with the result.

Hints for driving in Latvia:

  1. National speed limit is 90kmph and there are generally no speed limit signs.
  2. Built up area speed limit is 50kmph and there are generally no speed limit signs. The 50kmph applies between the town name and town name ending sign.
  3. It is law to drive with your lights on at all times (apparently).
2

Well, you learn something new every day!

3

So what do you get for driving at 187mph?

4

this is another example, taken by a passenger in the minibus I was driving down a “motorway” in Romania over the summer

5

it’s like Poland. Drivers over there are nuts and go rather fast in clapped out old Ladas and trabbys! I don’t think they’ve heard of an MOT!

6

Well… nuts? maybe… But old Laddas & Trabbys that was in mid eightys. Its a long time You"v been there.

Cheers.

7

Apparently bribes are now a big no-no in Latvia, so I didn’t even attempt it. For a £30 fine it’s not worth the risk really.

As for the Lat being stronger than the Pound, that’s a skewed picture really. As I mentioned above, their average monthly salary is something like 250LVL. You can rent a one bedroom apartment in a Soviet style block in Riga for about 60-70LVL per month. A pint can of beer in the super market will set you back about 0.25LVL.

So, as you can see, while it is a 1-1 in terms of numbers, the cost of living there is pretty cheap. Although inflation has been running pretty high in the last couple of years since Latvia joined the EU.