Driving in Finland vs. Switzerland: A Safety Comparison

When exploring the roads of Finland and Switzerland, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol consumption tolerance. This comparison highlights essential rules that every traveler must know to navigate these countries with confidence and ensure a secure driving experience.

finlandswitzerland

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	Switzerland
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

finland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

finland:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

finland:

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

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	30 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-120 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

finland:

50 km/h

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

switzerland:

30 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

100-120 km/h

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

switzerland:

80 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Finland	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Finland		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Finland	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
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

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

switzerland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

switzerland:

Not mandatory

Alcohol

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	Finland	Switzerland
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

switzerland:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Finland		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

finland:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

finland:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Switzerland
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

switzerland:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

switzerland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

finland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay