Finland introduces nighttime driving ban for under-18s, parents face penalties

A new amendment to Finland’s driving licence law takes effect Friday, banning all drivers under 18 from operating a vehicle between midnight and 5 a.m., public broadcaster Yle reports.

The restriction applies to all minors holding a licence under the country’s age-exemption scheme, which permits 17-year-olds to drive for work, school, or hobbies. Authorities aim to reduce serious nighttime accidents among young drivers, which statistics show are disproportionately concentrated during late-night hours.

Police will enforce the ban as part of routine traffic patrols, with a dedicated enforcement campaign targeting youth driving behaviour this week. “If the driver looks young, we’ll be checking more closely,” said Heikki Kallio, a police superintendent with the National Police Board.

Violations will be treated as unauthorised vehicle operation, carrying mandatory fines and a minimum one-month driving ban. Parents or vehicle owners who knowingly allow a minor to drive during prohibited hours may also face charges for providing a vehicle to an unauthorised driver.

From October, cars driven by under-18s must display a green-and-yellow identifier on the rear of the vehicle. The marker’s design and placement will be detailed in forthcoming regulations. Until then, police will monitor compliance during standard traffic checks.

Kallio acknowledged most young drivers would likely comply but anticipated some resistance. “There’s always a small group who won’t follow the rules,” he said. Official notifications about the change are being sent via the Suomi.fi service, though some paper notices may arrive after the law’s effective date.