Driving in Bahrain vs. Finland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the distinct road regulations and practices in Bahrain and Finland, two countries with unique approaches to motoring. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, this comparison highlights crucial variations that influence vehicular safety and driver etiquette abroad. Stay informed to ensure a secure journey while traveling.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
finland:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
finland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bahrain:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
finland:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not commonly used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
finland:
Not commonly used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
finland:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
finland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
finland:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
finland:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
finland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory for certain situations |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Results in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
finland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
finland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
finland:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
finland:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay