Driving in Finland vs. South Africa: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of driving regulations is crucial for safety. This comparison between Finland and South Africa reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and varied speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions ensures a smoother and more secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 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 | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in South Africa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not applicable |
| 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
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
south africa:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay