Finland Know Before You Go Driving Culture Driving Is on the Right

Home , Helsinki City Bikes, Ice road, Turku Airport

Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Finland Know Before You Go Driving Culture Driving is on the right. • Drivers are generally well Drivers must be a minimum of 18 years old. mannered and observant of Headlights must be on at all times. traffic signals and regulations. Seat belt use is compulsory for drivers and all occupants. • Drivers use horns and flashing Visiting drivers must carry proof of insurance and a valid driving license; US lights to alert other drivers licenses are acceptable for up to one year provided driver retains tourist status. to road hazards such as icy Road signs are in Finnish; signs may also contain Swedish text near border conditions or large animals on areas. the roadway. Blood alcohol limit is 0.05%; laws are strict and immediate arrest applies to • Drivers tend to have low tolerance those exceeding limit. Police may require a breath alcohol test from any driver at any time. for rudeness and bad behavior There are 4.8 road deaths per 100,000 people in Finland, compared to 2.8 in from visitors. Sweden and 2.9 in the UK.

Road Conditions • Road surfaces are generally in good condition. • Traffic in cities is rarely congested; Helsinki traffic may be heavy during commuter hours. • Many motorways have traffic fences or green areas separating lanes moving in opposite directions. • Beyond urban areas, road traffic is light. • Rural roads may be narrow and may lack centerline markings. • Gravel surface roads are generally well maintained. • The following roads may present particular challenges to motorists: »» Oulu-Hailuoto Ice Road is a 5.5 mile-long (9 km) road linking Oulu and the island of Hailuoto. The road is open for a four–five week period during winter months, dependent upon ice thickness. The road is constructed of compacted snow and water pumped into holes in the snow. Surfaces are highly slippery; there are no guardrails separating the road from surrounding water. »» Koli Ice Road is a seasonal 4.3-mile (7 km) road linking Koli to Lieksa across Lake Pielinen. The road is only open as ice thickness warrants. Road safety is continuously monitored; road may be closed without advance warning. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • Finland’s geographic location includes a portion of the Artic Circle. Weather conditions can change rapidly and may become severe, especially during winter months. • Sidewalks and roads can be slippery; weather- appropriate footwear is recommended for pedestrians. • Daylight hours during winter months are short. Drivers should be comfortable driving in the dark. • Road surfaces are subject to black ice (frozen water that Source: CIA Factbook ©ASIRT 2018 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Finland collects in hollow areas and under bridges that may not be readily visible to drivers). • Winter tires are compulsory from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 in all vehicles equipped with brakes, including trailers. • Winter and studded tires may be used as necessary during other months as conditions warrant. • Engine heaters are recommended. • Elk, deer and reindeer are active from dawn to dusk, and may be present even in urban landscapes. • Road signs alert drivers to the most common crossing points of large animals, but drivers should be aware of the potential for their presence. • If you strike an elk, deer or reindeer with your vehicle, you are required to immediately notify police. • Finland is subject to harsh winter conditons. Be familiar with emergency procedures. The Red Cross provides a website and free, downloadable emergency app: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of- emergencies Public Transportation • Public transportation is modern, well developed and well maintained. • Public transportation networks include long distance and suburban trains, subways, buses, trams, taxis and ferries. • Tram service is available in Helsinki. Light rail lines are under construction in Tampere and Turku. • Cities provide separate lanes restricted to buses and public transport. • Public transportation is generally regarded as safe and efficient. • Buses, trams, taxis, subways and trains are well maintained. • The taxi industry is government regulated. Speed Limits • Taxis operated by multiple companies are identifiable by yellow Type of road Maximum speed TAKSI signs on car roofs. 30 kph (19 mph) • Taxis cannot be hailed; taxi ranks are available at airports, train Urban areas to and bus stations, and around city centers. 50 kph (31 mph) 60 kph • Compared to other forms of public transportation, taxis are Edging urban areas expensive. (37 mph) 100 kph • Drivers may not be fluent in English; it is recommended that Motorways (62 mph) passengers carry a written Finnish address to present to drivers. Rural roads 60 kph (37 mph) • Finland’s main bus and coach company is Oy Matkahuolto Ab. • Buses provide local and long-distance service. Always adjust speed according to signage, hazards and • Trains are operated by the Finnish Railway Network (VR). weather conditions. • Commuter and long-distance trains form a countrywide network, and connect with rail lines to cities in Russia. • Train service is not available to Lapland in the northern region; buses serve these areas. • Overnight train service is available to many locations. • Ferries operated by Helsinki City Transport provide regular service to many outlying islands; icebreakers clear routes in winter months. • Transportation route planners are available at https://www. expat-finland.com/travel_finland/bus_train.html#buses

Signs are generally pictorial and may not follow European Union conventions.

Tram stop Public No Emergency End of Breakdown End Snowmobile End of ski track through road stopping zone motorway services of priority track only no parking zone

©ASIRT 2018 2 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Finland Traffic Regulations Helsinki (Capital) • Even in large cities, traffic lights at some »»Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport is located 10.6 miles intersections are turned off during early morning (17 km) from city center. hours. »»Transportation to and from the city includes a commuter • Right turns on red are prohibited. train and dedicated bus service; tickets may be purchased • Drivers must use the right lane on motorways on board or from ticket dispensers in the arrivals hall. except when passing. »»Most major car rental agencies are represented in the • Vehicles entering a roundabout are required to yield airport arrivals hall. to traffic already in the roundabout. »»Taxi ranks are located outside T1 and T2. • Vehicles exiting a roundabout are required to yield »»Public transportation infrastructure is modern and well to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road. developed. • Speed limits vary by season, with slower speeds »»Trams provide the main transportation option in Helsinki. during winter months. There are 11 lines that serve all areas of the city. • Many roads include lanes reserved for buses. »»Helsinki has a Metro subway system with two lines serving Other drivers may enter these lanes only when 25 stations. Signage is in Finnish. preparing to turn. »»A third Metro line is currently under construction and will • Drivers must be alert for trams and provide passage include an additional five stations. to approaching trams. »»Clearly marked pedestrian crossings and zones exist • Trams must be passed on the right unless rail citywide. position (such as on a one-way street) requires »»Wide sidewalks are regularly cleared during winter overtaking on the left. months; wearing non-slip footwear is advised. • Excessive engine idling is prohibited; two minutes »»Sidewalks in shopping areas are heated and well is the maximum time in warm weather and four maintained, but slippery conditions to and from heated minutes in cold weather of -15 Celsius (5 degrees areas may exist in icy or wet weather. Fahrenheit). »»The city’s Helsinki City Bikes program is closed from • Helmet use is compulsory for drivers and passengers November to April each year. of motorcycles, mopeds, snowmobiles and »»Ferry service is available to outlying islands, and to bicycles. Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Russia. • Drivers must always yield to pedestrians and cyclist at junctions regardless of whether or not marked Tampere for pedestrians. »»Second-largest city, located in southern Finland. • Pedestrians must wear reflectors at night and in »»Popular with tourists and students. poor lighting conditions. »»Site of one of the country’s largest universities. • Drivers should be alert to skiers using public ski »»Tampere is accessible by air, rail and road less than two paths in rural areas and urban settings with parks; hours from Helsinki. some ski paths exist close to roadways. »»Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is approximately 10.5 miles (17 • Drivers and cyclists are required to give way to km) from city center. pedestrians getting on or off buses and trams. »»Transportation options to and from the airport and city • Road traffic rules apply to cyclists. center include taxi and bus: • Cyclists must signal when turning. »»Airport taxi service is provided by Taksi Tampere, Raumair • Lights on bicycles are compulsory; bicycles must and Kyyti. also be fitted with red rear reflectors. »»Bus line 1A operates regular service. • On multiuse pedestrian/cycling paths, cyclists must »»Ryanair buses operate a regular route to and from the keep to right and pedestrians to the left unless airport and Tampere railway station. otherwise signed. »»Taxi ranks can be found at railway and bus stations, and at • On roadways, cyclists must give way to other traffic. multiple downtown locations including Keskustori Central • When crossing roadways and intersections, cyclists Square. must dismount. »»Pedestrian infrastructure is well developed with crossings • Motorcycles must be driven in normal traffic lanes; and pedestrian zones. mopeds are required to use the road verge. »»Sidewalks are well maintained, but may be slippery • Moped drivers may use cycle lanes when signs dependent upon weather conditions.

©ASIRT 2018 3 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Finland

indicate this is allowed. Turku • Parking is limited in urban areas. »»Located on Finland’s southwest coast. • Parking is expensive. Discs may be required for »»City center and historic area is small and easily walkable. parking in some areas of cities and towns; »»Turku Airport is positioned approximately 5 miles (8 km) from discs are available from roadside vending city center. machines. »»Föli Bus Line 1 operates between the airport and city center. • Unless signed otherwise, parking is allowed on »»Multiple taxi lines provide service to and from the airport. right side of road only, except for one-way Ranks are located in front of the arrivals terminal. streets; when roads are one-way, parking is »»There is well developed cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. allowed on both sides of the road. »»Surfaces of sidewalks and biking lanes may be icy and slippery depending upon weather conditions. »»Connections throughout Finland can be made from the main train station. »»Long distance bus service is available to other areas of Finland. »»Ferry service is available to outlying islands.

Emergency Information • Responders to emergency numbers in remote areas may not speak English. »» Police, ambulance and fire: 112 or 100-22 • Pre-program emergency numbers into your phone before departure. • If involved in a crash: »» Law requires that all vehicle drivers are obligated to assist anyone involved in a traffic crash. This requires providing transport to a hospital or treatment center, or arranging for transport. »» Crash scenes must be left untouched if there has been a fatality or serious injury. »» Engines of any vehicles involved in a crash must be switched off. • If involved in a crash without injuries: »» Report incident to the police. »» Exchange personal details and insurance information with other parties. »» Any crash involving damage to traffic control equipment including signs and barricades, or third party property such as a structure or parked vehicle, must be reported to the police. »» If a vehicle is disabled, a reflective traffic triangle must be placed behind it at approximately 150–250 meters (492–820 feet); at night or in poor light conditions, parking lights must be left on.

ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey.

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