Driving in Estonia vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Estonia and Norway, understanding the unique regulations and practices is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and overtaking rules, which significantly affect driving experiences. Prepare to navigate these variations to ensure a secure and enjoyable trip in both countries.
Lanes
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
estonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
estonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
estonia:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Signals
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
norway:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
norway:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | None |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
norway:
None
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | High fines and possible license revocation |
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
norway:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Yes, typically required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay