Driving in Finland vs. United Kingdom: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Finland and the United Kingdom, it's essential to understand their distinctive traffic regulations and driving practices. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations exhibit significant variations that influence roadway safety. Navigating these differences will help ensure a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid White Line | No crossing or lane changes allowed. | Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle). |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions. |
| Markings: Double Solid White Line | No crossing in either direction. | Do not cross or straddle in either direction. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4] | Railroad crossings | Near schools |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mostly exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads. |
Driving Side
finland:
Right
united kingdom:
Left
Markings: Solid White Line
finland:
No crossing or lane changes allowed.
united kingdom:
Do not cross unless it is safe and necessary (e.g., overtaking a stationary vehicle).
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
finland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used in the UK, yellow lines usually indicate parking restrictions.
Markings: Double Solid White Line
finland:
No crossing in either direction.
united kingdom:
Do not cross or straddle in either direction.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
finland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
united kingdom:
Not commonly used for lane markings in the UK.
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united kingdom:
Prohibited unless in specific situations such as roadworks.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 4]
finland:
Railroad crossings
united kingdom:
Near schools
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
united kingdom:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united kingdom:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis, cyclists, and motorcycles during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united kingdom:
Labeled 'BUS LANE'; often with signs indicating operating hours.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
finland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
united kingdom:
Mostly exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
finland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
united kingdom:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
finland:
No
united kingdom:
No, generally not used in the UK for regular roads, but sometimes used on specific toll roads.
Speeds Limits
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 20 mph in some areas |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 70 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Not typically used; fines are usually mailed |
Urban Areas: Standard
finland:
50 km/h
united kingdom:
30 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
united kingdom:
20 mph in some areas
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
united kingdom:
50 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
united kingdom:
70 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
united kingdom:
60 mph
Speed Units
finland:
km/h
united kingdom:
mph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
united kingdom:
Not typically used; fines are usually mailed
Signals
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Prepare to go, not used in the USA |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| 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
united kingdom:
Prepare to go, not used in the USA
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
finland:
Signal when exiting
united kingdom:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
united kingdom:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
united kingdom:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not permitted in the UK |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Left turns permitted; use caution |
| Left Turn: At Intersections | Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left | Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
united kingdom:
Not permitted in the UK
Left Turn: General
finland:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Left turns permitted; use caution
Left Turn: At Intersections
finland:
Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
united kingdom:
Priority must be given to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united kingdom:
Allowed except where prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | International Driving Permit often required alongside national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not displayed; records are electronic |
| 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
united kingdom:
Accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
united kingdom:
International Driving Permit often required alongside national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
united kingdom:
MOT test is required annually for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
united kingdom:
Not displayed; records are electronic
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
united kingdom:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
united kingdom:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
united kingdom:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united kingdom:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
united kingdom:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
united kingdom:
Substantial fines apply
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
united kingdom:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit |
Signaling: Entering
finland:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
united kingdom:
Signal left if taking the first exit, no signal for straight
Lane Usage: Right
finland:
Use for first exit or straight
united kingdom:
Use for first exit
Emergency Services
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA |
| 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
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
united kingdom:
999 or 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
united kingdom:
Check with your insurance provider or RAC/AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
united kingdom:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | United kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | £100 fine |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | £200 and 6 penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | £100 fine and 3 penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
united kingdom:
Varies; £100 and 3 penalty points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
united kingdom:
£100 fine
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
united kingdom:
£200 and 6 penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
united kingdom:
£100 fine and 3 penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
united kingdom:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united kingdom:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay