Driving in Finland vs. Singapore: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations between Finland and Singapore reveals striking contrasts in driving norms and safety measures. From lane usage and speed limits to emergency protocols, each country presents unique approaches that can significantly impact your travel experience. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring your safety abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during peak hours. |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Display not 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
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
finland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
finland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay