Driving Differences: China vs. Finland Explained
Discover the unique road regulations and practices in China and Finland with our detailed comparison. While both countries prioritize road safety, their approaches vary significantly. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol regulations and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions will enhance your driving experience abroad and ensure your well-being on foreign roads.
Lanes
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed in certain cases; check local rules. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3] | Railroad crossings | Pedestrian crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane if possible. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
finland:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
finland:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
finland:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
finland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, especially in urban areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
china:
40-60 km/h
finland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
finland:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
finland:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
finland:
Yes
Signals
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese; symbols also used | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
finland:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
finland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Chinese driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required for short visits | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory for certain situations |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
finland:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
china:
Displayed on windshield
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Results in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
finland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
china:
0.00%
finland:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
finland:
Results in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight ahead | Use for first exit or straight |
Lane Usage: Right
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
finland:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory, recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
china:
Mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| China | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay