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.
Lanes
| 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:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| 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:
No
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
| 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
| Finland | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
ireland:
Not allowed
Documentation
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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