Driving in Finland vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Finland and Serbia, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. Notable contrasts include speed limits—Finland's urban zones cap at 30-40 km/h while Serbia maintains 30 km/h—as well as varied alcohol limits and documentation requirements. Understanding these nuances is essential for safe travel in each country.
Lanes
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
serbia:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay