Driving Differences: Finland vs. Spain Explained

When navigating the roads of Finland and Spain, understanding the distinct regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences emerge in areas such as speed limits, lane usage, and penalties for violations. Familiarizing yourself with these driving customs will enhance your travel experience and promote road safety abroad.

finlandspain

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in finland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Finland	Spain
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.	Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Minimum two or three occupants

Overtaking: On Right

finland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

spain:

Prohibited unless on a one-way street.

Bus Lanes: Usage

finland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

spain:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

finland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

spain:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

finland:

spain:

Yes

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

spain:

Minimum two or three occupants

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Spain
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, commonly used

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

spain:

20-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

80 km/h

spain:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

finland:

80 km/h

spain:

80-90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

spain:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

spain:

120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

spain:

90 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

spain:

Yes, commonly used

Signals

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	Finland	Spain
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Triangular with white background and red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

spain:

Not used in Spain

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

spain:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

spain:

Triangular with white background and red border

Turns

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	Finland		Spain
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

spain:

Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

spain:

Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.

Documentation

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	Finland	Spain
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed	Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation	International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Mandatory.
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

spain:

Accepted; must carry license.

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

spain:

International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

spain:

Yes, periodic inspections required.

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

spain:

Displayed on windshield in some areas.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory

spain:

Mandatory.

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

spain:

Mandatory.

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		Spain
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Used more frequently in urgent situations

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

finland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

spain:

Used more frequently in urgent situations

Alcohol

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	Finland	Spain
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in heavy fines and license suspension

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

spain:

0.03%

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

spain:

Common; checkpoints frequently used

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

spain:

Severe penalties, including high fines

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

spain:

Can result in heavy fines and license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Spain
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

spain:

Check with local authorities

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

spain:

Contact your insurance provider or RACE

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

spain:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

spain:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Spain
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Yes; discount if paid promptly.

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

spain:

Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

finland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

spain:

Severe fines and potential imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

spain:

€200, mandatory use

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

spain:

€200, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

spain:

€200, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

spain:

Yes; discount if paid promptly.