Driving in Finland vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Finland and Sri Lanka. From driving sides to speed limits and lane usage, each nation showcases unique practices. While Finland adheres to strict safety measures and regulations, Sri Lanka presents a different set of rules that reflect its cultural nuances. Understanding these variations is essential for safe travel abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
finland:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot