Driving Differences: Finland vs. Saudi Arabia
When exploring the roads of Finland and Saudi Arabia, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence safety and navigation. From bus lanes and alcohol limits to speed regulations, this comparison highlights crucial disparities that every traveler should understand to ensure a secure and informed journey abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
finland:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
finland:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 993 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer