Driving in Finland vs France: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Finland and France, understanding their unique regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and penalties for violations. By familiarizing yourself with these essential driving contrasts, you can enhance your travel experience and prioritize safety abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
france:
30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
france:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
france:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in France |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
france:
Not used in France
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
finland:
Signal when exiting
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
finland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
france:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
france:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
france:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Mandatory in vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
france:
Accepted for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
france:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
france:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
france:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering if turning right |
Signaling: Entering
finland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
Emergency Services
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 17 or through local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
france:
17 or through local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
france:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
france:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | €135 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | €135 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | €135 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 45 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
france:
€135
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
france:
€135
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
france:
€135
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay