Finland to introduce mandatory age markers for 17-year-old drivers from autumn

From October, all 17-year-old car drivers in Finland must display a yellow-green age marker on their vehicles, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) announced Wednesday. The requirement follows changes to the country’s driving licence law taking effect this week.

The hexagonal marker, bordered in white, must be clearly visible on the rear of the vehicle whenever a minor is driving. Unlike Finland’s previous “80-kilometre” novice driver plaques—used from 1972 to the mid-1990s—the new marker carries no speed restrictions. Drivers will purchase the magnetic markers from retail stores.

The change coincides with a nighttime driving ban for 17-year-olds, effective from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM starting Friday. Traficom’s lead specialist Marjo Immonen noted that while the markers were intended to roll out simultaneously, production delays pushed their introduction to October.

Official data shows 20% of injury accidents involving 17-year-old drivers occur at night, with 40% of those being fatal. Failure to display the marker will result in a traffic fine.