Driving in Cuba vs. Finland: A Safety Comparison
Discover the contrasts in road regulations and safety measures between Cuba and Finland. While Cuba emphasizes local guidelines and minimal lane designation, Finland boasts structured bus lanes and electronic speed limits. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience when navigating through these unique landscapes.
Lanes
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost 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 | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | 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. |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
finland:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
finland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
finland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
finland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 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 | 50-70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
finland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
finland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
finland:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
finland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
finland:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
cuba:
No
finland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
finland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
finland:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not commonly used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
finland:
Not commonly used
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
finland:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | 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 | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | 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
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
finland:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
finland:
Results in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | Contact through 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | 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
cuba:
106
finland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
finland:
Contact through 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; fines based on income |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply, typically €85 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply, typically €100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Possible; usually drive must pay later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
finland:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay