Driving in Finland vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Finland and Hong Kong presents unique contrasts that are essential for ensuring road safety while abroad. Key distinctions include driving sides, speed limits, and signaling protocols. Understanding these variations will help travelers navigate the roads confidently and responsibly in both countries.
Lanes
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
hong kong:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
hong kong:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
hong kong:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay