World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Helsinki  - Road
Road

Each major road has a number: national highways are numbered with one or two digits, from east to west. Designated European routes bear a prefix 'E'. Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left. It should be noted that cars entering an intersection from the right always have right of way, even when the car is on a minor road. The speed limit is 80-120kph (40-75mph) on motorways, dropping to 100kph in winter (60mph), and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers in the front of the car and children under the age of 15 years must travel in the back. All motor vehicles must have headlights on at all times. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%.

A pink-format EU driving licence or an International Driving Permit are required. EU nationals taking cars to Helsinki are advised to obtain a Green Card. All drivers must be fully insured. All accidents must be reported promptly to the Motor Bureau, Bulevardi 28 (tel: (09) 680 401; fax: (09) 6804 0391). Information is available from the Finnish National Road Association (tel: (09) 204 4411).

Emergency breakdown service:
Tiepalvelu (09) 8502 0708

Routes to the city: The main road to Helsinki from Turku (the 'gateway to Sweden') is the E18. Vaasa is connected to Helsinki (another ferry point to northern Sweden) by the E12. Rovaniemi in the north is on the E75.

Driving times to Helsinki: from Turku - 2 hours 15 minutes; Vaasa - 4 hours 30 minutes; Rovaniemi - 11 hours.

Coach services: The main provider is the express bus service Oy Matkahuolto Ab, Lauttasaarentie 8 (tel: (09) 682 701; fax: (09) 692 2864; website: www.expressbus.com), it handles all long-distance and express bus travel, while private companies handle regular local bus services. At the coach station (located between Salomonkatu and Simonkatu) there is a café and an ATM.



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