Finland’s nighttime driving ban for 17-year-olds takes effect as teens adapt in Seinäjoki

A new law banning 17-year-olds from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. came into force across Finland on Friday, forcing young drivers in Seinäjoki to adjust their plans, Yle reports.

At a shopping center parking lot late Thursday, Miro Kriikkula, 17, handed his car keys to a fully licensed friend just before midnight. Kriikkula, who obtained his driver’s license in February under an age exemption, said the restriction now limits his ability to see friends at night without an adult driver.

“If I want to meet up with friends after midnight, I’ll need someone 18 or older to drive,” he said.

The ban, aimed at reducing serious traffic accidents among young drivers, has sparked debate among teens in the Ostrobothnia region. Samuel Olkkonen, 17, who is still working toward his license, questioned whether police have the resources to enforce the rule, especially in rural areas.

“I might not have applied for the exemption if I’d known about the nighttime ban earlier,” Olkkonen said. “I was planning to drive with friends this summer, but now that won’t work.”

Axel Lukkarila, 18, who waited until his birthday to get his license, acknowledged the risks of night driving but said the ban still frustrates his younger peers.

“Of course it’s annoying for them,” he said.

Violations carry stiff penalties, including fines and driving bans for underage drivers—and potential consequences for parents who lend their cars, according to Marjo Immonen, a senior expert at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).

“Letting an unlicensed driver use your vehicle is also an offense,” Immonen said, though she noted police would likely assess cases individually.

Statistics show 17-year-old drivers were involved in over 400 injury-causing accidents between 2020 and 2024, with more than 80 occurring during the banned overnight hours.