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!

finlandiceland

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in finland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

iceland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

iceland:

N/A

Signals

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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