Driving in Finland vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving customs and regulations of Finland and Japan, two countries with distinct road cultures. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, this comparison highlights essential variations that ensure safety on the road. Understanding these driving nuances will enhance your travel experience and promote responsible navigation abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| 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
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
finland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
japan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days