Night-time driving ban for 17-year-old passenger car drivers enters into force on 29 May

 The amendments to the Driving Licence Act will enter into force on 29 May 2026. One of the most significant changes concerns 17-year-old passenger car drivers, who will be subject to a night-time driving ban between 00.00 and 05.00. The ban applies to all 17-year-olds, including those who received an age exception permit before the legislative amendment entered into force.

“It is important to remember that the ban applies to all 17-year-olds driving vehicles that require a passenger car driving licence,” says Marjo Immonen, Chief Specialist at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

“It makes no difference whether the driving licence was obtained with an age exception permit or not, or whether the permit was granted before the new law entered into force. Driving a passenger car between midnight and five in the morning is prohibited, which means that 17-year-old passenger car drivers do not have the right to drive during those hours.”

The night-time driving ban does not apply to other vehicle categories. This means that driving a moped or light quadri-mobile (AM licence), a light motorcycle (A1 licence) or a tractor (T licence) will still be permitted during night-time hours.

Violating the night-time driving ban is a criminal offence

The driving ban means that a 17-year-old driver’s right to drive passenger cars is not valid between 00.00 and 05.00. The police monitor traffic during the night as well and always check drivers’ right to drive.

“If an underage driver operates a vehicle requiring a passenger car driving licence between 00.00 and 05.00, they will be suspected of unauthorised operation of a vehicle, which may result in a fine and a driving ban,” says Heikki Kallio, Chief Superintendent at the National Police Board.

In addition, the person who allowed the vehicle to be used may also receive a fine. This means that guardians now have an even greater responsibility for supervising the driving rights of 17-year-old drivers. The rules must be clearly agreed when a young person is allowed to use a car.

Aim to improve road safety

The development of road safety among young drivers has been monitored for a long time. The legislative amendments introduce new restrictions for underage drivers during night-time hours, when the risk of accidents among young people is at its highest.

“Most young drivers are responsible and comply with traffic rules, but unfortunately not all of them do. The risk of death among young drivers aged 15–24, relative to the population, is more than twice as high as in the population as a whole,” says Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio.

“In recent years, nearly 40 per cent of traffic fatalities involving young people occurred during night-time hours between 00.00 and 07.00. This is why measures and legislative reforms are being introduced to prevent every possible traffic fatality and serious injury,” Kallio says.

Many factors affect road safety, which is why road users must always consider other people on the road, as well as passengers travelling in the car. In accidents involving young drivers, personal injuries are often sustained by people other than the driver.

“Although the night-time driving ban may feel like an unnecessarily strict restriction to many young drivers, it is worth remembering that the amended Driving Licence Act also tightens the conditions for granting an age exception permit. The need for transport must now be more clearly linked to education, work placement or goal-oriented hobbies,” reminds Marjo Immonen from Traficom.

Very few 17-year-olds have such transport needs during night-time hours.

“The role of the authorities is not to make life more difficult, but to prevent every serious injury and traffic fatality wherever possible,” Marjo Immonen and Heikki Kallio say.