Driving in Costa Rica vs. Finland: Key Safety Differences
Costa Rica and Finland present intriguing contrasts in their road regulations and driving customs. From lane usage to speed limits, each country showcases unique approaches to vehicular safety. While Finland embraces dedicated bus and cycle lanes, Costa Rica relies more on shared road spaces. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
finland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
finland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
finland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
finland:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
finland:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
finland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
finland:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
finland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
finland:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
finland:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
finland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | 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 inspection required; proof required | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory for certain situations |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
finland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
finland:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory, recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory, recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later