Driving in Finland vs. Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the stark contrasts in road regulations between Finland and Indonesia, travelers can uncover vital insights that enhance their journey. Key distinctions include driving orientation—right in Finland versus left in Indonesia—and varying speed limits across urban and rural areas. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 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 | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
indonesia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by region; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days