Driving in Bhutan vs. Finland: Key Safety Insights
When exploring the contrasting road regulations of Bhutan and Finland, drivers will uncover significant variations in traffic norms and safety practices. From driving on opposite sides of the road to differing speed limits and lane usage, understanding these disparities is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in foreign environments.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
finland:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
finland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
finland:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
finland:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
finland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
finland:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
finland:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not commonly used |
| 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
finland:
Not commonly used
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory for certain situations |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
finland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
finland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
finland:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay