Driving in Finland vs. Myanmar: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roadways of Finland and Myanmar, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. Key contrasts range from lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and compliant driving experience in either country.
Lanes
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 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 | 70 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
myanmar:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
myanmar:
N/A
Signals
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Myanmar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; else must be paid at office |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office