Driving in Finland vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences

When venturing into Finland or Ireland, understanding each nation's unique motoring regulations is vital for safe journeys. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Finland versus the left in Ireland, as well as varying speed limits and traffic signal protocols. Explore these essential contrasts to navigate confidently abroad.

finlandireland

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	Ireland
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left	Yes	No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use rightmost lane.	Use leftmost lane.
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

ireland:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

finland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

ireland:

Marks areas where passing is not allowed.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

finland:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

ireland:

Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Left

finland:

Yes

ireland:

No, overtake on the right.

Overtaking: On Right

finland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

ireland:

Yes, standard overtaking side.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

finland:

Use rightmost lane.

ireland:

Use leftmost lane.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

ireland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

ireland:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

ireland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Ireland
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	90 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	More common; fines can be issued on the spot.

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

ireland:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

80 km/h

ireland:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

finland:

80 km/h

ireland:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

ireland:

80-90 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

ireland:

120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

ireland:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

ireland:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

ireland:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

ireland:

More common; fines can be issued on the spot.

Signals

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	Finland	Ireland
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Triangles with red borders

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

finland:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

ireland:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

ireland:

Indicates the light is about to turn green.

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

finland:

Signal when exiting

ireland:

Signal when entering and exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

finland:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

ireland:

Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

ireland:

English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

ireland:

Triangles with red borders

Turns

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	Finland		Ireland
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Not allowed

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

ireland:

Not allowed

Documentation

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	Finland	Ireland
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	Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Required
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

ireland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

ireland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

ireland:

Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

ireland:

Displayed on the windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory

ireland:

Required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		Ireland
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

ireland:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Finland	Ireland
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

ireland:

Random breath testing is common.

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

ireland:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

ireland:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Ireland
Contact: General Emergency	112	112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

finland:

112

ireland:

112 or 999

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

ireland:

112 or 999

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

ireland:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

ireland:

Required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Ireland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Possible; fines can be issued on the spot

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

ireland:

Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

ireland:

€60 fine and two penalty points

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

ireland:

€60 fine and three penalty points

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

ireland:

€80 and three penalty points

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

ireland:

Possible; fines can be issued on the spot