Driving Differences: Finland vs. Paraguay Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Finland and Paraguay. From speed limits to lane usage, this comparison highlights how each country prioritizes vehicular conduct and passenger protection. Uncover essential insights that can enhance your driving experience abroad and ensure a secure journey on foreign roads.
Lanes
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| 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
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| 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 | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
finland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days