Driving in Finland vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the distinct driving regulations between Finland and Iceland to enhance your road safety while abroad. From speed limits and signaling practices to the use of emergency equipment, understanding these variations is crucial. Notably, Finland permits variable speed limits, while Iceland maintains stricter enforcement on documentation. Stay informed and drive safely in these unique landscapes!
Lanes
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
finland:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Signals
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
finland:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
finland:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
finland:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
iceland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
finland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame