Driving in Finland vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences

When driving in Finland and North Macedonia, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. Key disparities include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signal interpretations. While Finland embraces variable speed limits and cautious overtaking, North Macedonia maintains stricter rules, particularly regarding alcohol limits and licensing. Stay informed to navigate these diverse driving environments effectively.

finlandnorth macedonia

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	North macedonia
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Overtaking: On Right

finland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

north macedonia:

Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.

Bus Lanes: Markings

finland:

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

north macedonia:

Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

finland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

north macedonia:

Bicycle symbols and marked paths.

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

north macedonia:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

north macedonia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	North macedonia
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

north macedonia:

30 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

north macedonia:

70 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

north macedonia:

120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

north macedonia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

north macedonia:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

north macedonia:

N/A

Signals

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	Finland	North macedonia
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage	To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking	To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage	Not to be used to signal other messages	Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Triangle-shaped with red border

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

finland:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

north macedonia:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

north macedonia:

Prepare to go

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

finland:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

north macedonia:

Prohibited in urban areas at night

Headlight Flash: Usage

finland:

To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking

north macedonia:

To warn other drivers of your presence

Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage

finland:

Not to be used to signal other messages

north macedonia:

Not to signal other messages

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

north macedonia:

Macedonian; standard symbols

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

north macedonia:

Triangle-shaped with red border

Turns

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	Finland		North macedonia
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed when not prohibited by signs

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

north macedonia:

Prohibited unless specified by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

north macedonia:

Allowed when not prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Finland	North macedonia
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	International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory for certain situations	Mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

finland:

Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed

north macedonia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

north macedonia:

International Driving Permit required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

north macedonia:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

north macedonia:

Displayed on the windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

north macedonia:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		North macedonia
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic		Common practice

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

finland:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

north macedonia:

Common practice

Alcohol

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	Finland	North macedonia
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Conducted at checkpoints
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

north macedonia:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

north macedonia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

north macedonia:

Conducted at checkpoints

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

north macedonia:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Finland	North macedonia
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	192
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

north macedonia:

192

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

north macedonia:

Contact local service providers

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

north macedonia:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

north macedonia:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	North macedonia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 15 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

north macedonia:

Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

north macedonia:

50 EUR

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

north macedonia:

40 EUR

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

north macedonia:

250 EUR, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

north macedonia:

Yes, often required

Payment: Deadline

finland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

north macedonia:

Varies; typically within 15 days to pay