Driving Differences: Finland vs Tanzania Explained
When traversing the roads of Finland and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their experience. Key contrasts include driving sides—right in Finland and left in Tanzania—along with speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in either country.
Lanes
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30-50 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Signals
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; 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
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
tanzania:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
tanzania:
Common