Driving in Australia vs. Finland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Australia and Finland, it's crucial to understand their unique traffic norms and regulations. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and specific lane usage rules. This comparison aims to enhance your awareness and ensure a secure journey in these diverse driving landscapes.
Lanes
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
finland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
finland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
finland:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
finland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
finland:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
finland:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
finland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
finland:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
finland:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
finland:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
finland:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory for certain situations |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
finland:
Results in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
finland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
finland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory, recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory, recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay