The Finnish Transport Agency started operating on January 1st 2010.
The new agency combines the Rail Administration and parts of the Maritime Administration and Road Administration. The Road Regions are now parts of the new Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
Finland, being a sparsly populated country prompts people to travel long distances between destinations. On average people travel about 16 km and for about 83 minutes per day. The average daily commute is 13 km. Seventy percent of the households have the possibility of using a car.
Travelling conditions in Finland differ dramatically throughout the seasons. In the autumn it is good to adjust ones driving habits and remember that breaking and vision situations are clearly different than the summer past.
Basic rules for your safety
- Seat belt compulsory for everyone - Headlights compulsory at all times - Use of lights in a stationary vehicle - Drunken driving is a criminal offence - Do not use mobile phones when driving - Radar detectors are prohibited - Unnecessary engine idling is prohibited - Direction indicators must be used - Consideration in use of the horn
Driving License
Driving licenses of other European Union countries and the Nordic countries are valid in Finland without the need for any further action.
Other foreign driving licenses issued in a signatory country to the Vienna or Geneva Road Traffic Conventions entitle the license holder to drive in Finland for one year following the date of arrival, provided the license holder was residing permanently in that country when he or she received the driving license. These signatory countries comprise most of the European countries, the United States and a number of African countries.
