Driving in Finland vs. Mexico: Key Safety Differences

When exploring the roads of Finland and Mexico, it's crucial to understand the diverse regulations and practices that govern each nation’s motoring landscape. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, key distinctions emerge. This comparative overview aims to equip travelers with the knowledge needed to navigate safely and confidently in both countries.

finlandmexico

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	Mexico
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.	Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
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

Bus Lanes: Usage

finland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

mexico:

Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.

Bus Lanes: Markings

finland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

mexico:

Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.

Cycle Lanes: Usage

finland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

mexico:

Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

finland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

mexico:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

mexico:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

mexico:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

mexico:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Mexico
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	80-100 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	Yes, particularly in high traffic areas

Urban Areas: Standard

finland:

50 km/h

mexico:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

mexico:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

mexico:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

finland:

100 km/h

mexico:

80-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

mexico:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

mexico:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

mexico:

Yes, particularly in high traffic areas

Signals

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	Finland	Mexico
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Triangular signs with red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

mexico:

Not used in Mexico

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

mexico:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

mexico:

Triangular signs with red border

Turns

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	Finland		Mexico
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

mexico:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

mexico:

Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited

Documentation

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	Finland	Mexico
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	Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory
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

mexico:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

mexico:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

mexico:

Varies by state; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

mexico:

Displayed on the windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory

mexico:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

mexico:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		Mexico
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Moderate use compared to some countries

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

finland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

mexico:

Moderate use compared to some countries

Alcohol

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	Finland	Mexico
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

finland:

0.05%

mexico:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

mexico:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

mexico:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

mexico:

Common in urban areas, especially during holidays

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

mexico:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Mexico
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

finland:

112

mexico:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

mexico:

066 or 911

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

mexico:

Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

mexico:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

mexico:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Mexico
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; system improvements for online payments

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

mexico:

Varies; $40 to $200, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

mexico:

Varies, up to $50, points in some states

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

mexico:

Varies; can lead to significant fines

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

mexico:

Varies; can be substantial, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

mexico:

Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred

Payment: Deadline

finland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

mexico:

Varies; system improvements for online payments