The aim is to prohibit 17-year-old drivers from operating vehicles that require a category B driving licence during night-time hours. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva
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Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications is preparing a legislative amendment to ban 17-year-olds from driving cars between midnight and 5am. The proposed restriction targets drivers holding a category B licence, covering passenger vehicles.
Although the legal driving age in Finland is 18, a 2018 reform allowed 17-year-olds to obtain licences under eased conditions. The change removed the requirement for a “compelling” reason, replacing it with a need for an “adequate” reason. As a result, the number of underage drivers rose sharply, from under ten annually to more than 200.
The ministry cited growing concerns about traffic safety as the motivation behind the proposed reform. A series of fatal accidents involving young drivers prompted authorities to reassess the consequences of the 2018 legislative change.
Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne stated that the law aims to ensure that young drivers are better prepared for traffic. “They will drive safer, they will have better control of the vehicle and they will have the opportunity to drive around Finland,” she said in the press release.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader package of traffic reforms. These include the introduction of mandatory “risk recognition” training for learner drivers and penalties for cheating on the theory test. The government aims to implement the new laws by summer 2026.
Pasi Anteroinen, CEO of the Finnish Road Safety Council, endorsed the changes. He said the night driving ban could reduce accidents, which often occur during night hours and involve younger drivers. “This kind of targeted legislation does not interfere enormously with young people’s independent mobility,” he told Yle. He noted that 17-year-olds would still be able to commute for work, education, and hobbies during daytime hours.
The ministry confirmed that while the number of young drivers increased under the 2018 rules, so too did risks associated with late-night driving, contributing to the need for renewed regulation.
The draft law will proceed to parliamentary review, with public consultation expected as part of the legislative process.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
