Driving in Finland vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for safe navigation. This comparison between Finland and Thailand reveals striking contrasts in driving habits, speed limits, and road etiquette. From lane usage to traffic signals, grasping these variations ensures a smoother and more secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
finland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| 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
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days