Finland to ban people under 18 from driving at night — Yle
Starting May 29, drivers under the age of 18 in Finland will be prohibited from driving at night—from midnight to 5 a.m.
This was reported by Yle.
The decision was made by government authorities to improve safety on public roads. The new measure is intended to significantly reduce the accident rate among young drivers.
The legal restrictions will affect a significant number of teenagers who have taken advantage of simplified rules for obtaining driver’s licenses.
The amendment to the driver’s license law applies to all young people who obtained a special permit to drive before the age of 18.
The main factor behind the adoption of such strict measures was an analysis of statistics on nighttime traffic accidents. The goal is to reduce the number of serious nighttime accidents among young people, which often have tragic consequences.
The country’s law enforcement agencies have already developed a clear procedure for inspecting vehicles to identify violators. The police will monitor compliance with the law as part of general traffic enforcement.
Severe administrative penalties are in place for ignoring the new requirements, and these will apply not only to teenagers. Violations will result in a fine and a driving ban of at least one month.
Parents are also held responsible if they allow their children to drive at night.
To facilitate visual monitoring on the roads, the government is introducing additional markings for vehicles driven by minors. Starting in October, vehicles driven by drivers under the age of 18 must display a visible green-and-yellow identification sign.
This special marker will allow other road users and patrol officers to identify the driver’s category from a distance. The sign must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle so that it is clearly visible.
Representatives of the relevant agency are counting on a high level of public awareness, but are preparing for possible violations.
Heikki Kallio, an inspector with the Police Department, is confident that most young people will comply with the new law, but not all.
The official emphasized that law enforcement will be strict when it comes to holding people accountable.
“There will always be those who do not follow the rules,” Kallio notes.
The state clearly distinguishes between recreational trips and essential travel during the day. Special driving permits for those under 18 are issued for hobbies, education, and work.
However, according to Kallio, there is no need to drive at night, as all social activities come to a halt during this time. To ensure citizens are fully informed, all underage drivers have been notified of the change in the law via Suomi.fi.
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