The procedure for the use of driving licenses obtained in other countries by third country nationals may change in Latvia. Amendments to the Road Traffic Law are planned to be proposed, which provide for a reduction in the period during which such licenses must be exchanged for those issued in Latvia.
Statistics show that citizens of the United Kingdom and India make up the largest group of third country drivers who are exchanging their driving licenses in Latvia, reports the program Degpunktā (TV3). Last year, a total of nearly 900 citizens from these countries obtained Latvian driving licenses, with most exchanging their licenses rather than obtaining them anew.
Currently, the law stipulates that third country nationals with a driving license obtained in their home country can drive in Latvia for one year after arrival. After that, the license must be exchanged for a Latvian one.
However, the Saeima is discussing the possibility of shortening this period. The changes are being considered against the backdrop of an increase in traffic violations among foreign drivers.
Overall, last year, among third country nationals, citizens of Russia, India, and Ukraine were most frequently involved in traffic accidents in Latvia.
"We are working intensively on monitoring third parties. Yes, there are violations: a total of 6,000 drivers were checked over the year, with nearly 700 violations identified, and in 80 cases, individuals were found without a driving license," said Juris Jančevskis, head of the State Police Response Division.
The majority of violations were for speeding.
"To address the issue of third country drivers being insufficiently prepared and to expedite the exchange of their licenses, thereby allowing them to enhance their competence, we propose reducing the period from one year to nine months during which they can drive with a license obtained in their home country," said Talivaldis Vektērāns, director of the Department of Road Transport at the Ministry of Transport.
"Statistics also show that those third country nationals who drive without Latvian driving licenses are most often the ones causing traffic accidents," noted Aivars Aksenoks, chairman of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate.
Lawmakers hope that stricter regulations will help verify drivers' skills more quickly and reduce risks on the roads.
The obligation to exchange a driving license does not apply to licenses issued in European Union countries, the European Free Trade Association, as well as in the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
