Driving in Finland vs. New Zealand: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and practices between Finland and New Zealand. From driving on opposite sides to varied speed limits and unique traffic signals, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Read on to explore how these two nations prioritize safety on their roads!
Lanes
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English; 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
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
finland:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| 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
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
finland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
finland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| 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
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay