A guide to driving in

VISITOR INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

l Estonia has 1.4 million inhabitants and 650,982

registered vehicles including 546,375 passenger
cars.
l There are nearly 500,000 licence holders in the
country.
l Altogether there are 1,602 kms of main
motorways in Estonia, which make up 10% of the
whole network of national roads. Daily traffic on
the main motorways forms approximately 50% of
all traffic.
l Estonia is situated in the Baltic region of
Northern Europe and spreads over an area of
approximately 45,226 sq km
l Estonia is the smallest of all the Baltic States,
being only slightly bigger than Switzerland or
Denmark
l The international vehicle ID code is EST
This document was last revised on1 April 2014

Please see next page for comprehensive

information on specific road rules and
TISPOLs advice on safer driving.

ESTONIA

A guide to driving in

Driving facts

l The minimum age for driving is 18.

The validity of a provisional driving
licence is limited to two years, after
which a theory test is required. Success
in the test enables the candidate to drive
a passenger car or motorcycle without a
chaperone.
l From the age of 16, a learner can
start to drive a passenger car with a provisional licence under the supervision of
a parent or close family friend.
l Moped licences can be issued to
persons aged 14 and over. A licence is
not mandatory at the age of 16.

Drink-drive limit:

l The general blood alcohol content

limit is 0.24 BAC. Drivers detected
with more than this will have their
licence withdrawn or may be subjected to court proceedings.
l Drivers detected with more than
0.75 BAC will be subjected to criminal and court proceedings.
l Police have the right to use force
to take blood or body fluid to
analyse for alcohol or drugs.

Annual road deaths

l Recent statistics identify that out of

1,852 road traffic accidents involving a
human casualty, 412 accidents (22%)
occurred as a result of an intoxicated
driver.This was the lowest level

ESTONIA

recorded during the last three years.

l In 2008, 43 people died and 560
people were injured due to a drinkdriving incident, which represents a
reduction from 2007 when the numbers
recorded were 81 fatalities and 786
people casualties.

Speed limits

l 110 km/h for cars and motorcyclists

on selected roads (summer only).
l 90 km/h for all cars out of town.
l 50 km/h for all cars in built-up areas
and towns

Motorcycles

l Motorcycles represent an increasing

part of Estonia's traffic.
l In 1997 the number of registered
motorcycles in Estonia was 4,680, but by
2007 there had been a significant
increase to 14,694.
l In 2009 the number of registered
motorcycles in Estonia rose to 18,016.

Pedestrians

l During 1997, 73 pedestrians died and

453 people were injured in road traffic
accidents. By 2008, the figures had
declined with a total of 39 pedestrian
fatalities and 414 road traffic casualties.
l The involvement of pedestrians in
traffic accidents where there were
human casualties fell by 16% from 2007
to 2008, the most frequent type of
accident being a collision with a
pedestrian (24% of instances).

In the capital, Tallinn, before the green light of a

traffic signal changes, the light flashes twice.

Enforcement

Violations against the regulations of the road traffic act are enforced by the
appropriate competent traffic police authority. Penalty ranges for a variety of offences
are pre-determined and Estonian law enforcement officers are authorised to issue
on-the-spot fines.
A driver may be subjected to court proceedings in the following situations:
l The driver takes charge of a vehicle in a state of intoxication (alcohol or drug).
l drives the vehicle without a licence.
l exceeds the permissible speed limit by between 21 and 40 km/h; and by more
than 40 km/h.
l causes a severe traffic accident.
l consumes alcohol after a road traffic accident.
l fails to report a traffic accident to the police when it is obligatory.
l leaves the site of a traffic accident.
l ignores the stop signal of a police officer or traffic regulator.

Useful phrases

Call the police!

Kutsuge politsei!

Do you speak English?

Kas te rgite inglise keelt?
My car has broken down.
Minu auto on katki.

Where is the nearest fuel station?

Kus on lhim tankla?
I am lost.
Olen eksinud.
Thank you!
Tnan!

Emergency contacts

In an emergency, call 112 for ambulance

or rescue. Call 110 for police.
Police website: www.politsei.ee

Pics: Shutterstock

A guide to driving in
Useful regulations and advice
What documents must I be able to produce if requested by the police?
If you intend to drive your own vehicle
in Estonia, you must also have the
original V5 C (Vehicle Registration
Document). The Estonian Border
Guards may seize your vehicle if you do
not have this.
Do I need to carry a reflective jacket in
my car? If so, how many?
It is recommended.
Do I need to carry spare bulbs for the
lights on my vehicle? If so, for which
lights?
No.
Do I need to carry spare spectacles if I
wear them for driving? Do others in the
vehicle with me also need to carry spare
spectacles if they wear them for
driving?
it is not mandatory, but is a sensible
precaution.
Do I need to carry a fire extinguisher?
It is recommended that you carry a fire
extinguisher, and also a torch.
Any other requirements I should be
aware of regarding the equipment or
paperwork I need for a journey in or
through your country?
You need a first aid kit, two warning triangles and two wheel chocks.

Winter driving
What items are required or recommended for journeys made in winter?
Winter tyres must be fitted between 1
December and 1 March. It is worth also
noting that dipped headlights must be
used at all times, all year round.

Passengers
Is there a minimum age or height for a
passenger to ride in the front seat?
No.
What specific regulations are in place
for carrying babies and children?
No specific regulations but all children
must be suitably restrained on journeys.
It is compulsory to wear a seatbelt if it is
fitted. This applies both to front and rear
seat occupants.

Do you have any specific rules regarding the carriage of dogs and other pets?
No. However, they should not be
allowed to distract the driver during a
journey.

Breakdown and collision advice

Please give brief advice on what I
should do if my vehicle breaks down, on
the motorway and on other roads.
Display warning triangles at a suitable
distance on each side of your car, if it is
a hazard to others. It is recommended
that you have a mobile phone available
and the telephone number of your breakdown insurance company to hand in the
event of breaking down. Winters in
Estonia can be harsh. Therefore, it is a
sensible precaution to check the weather
forecast and road conditions before setting out. Taking adequate emergency

And finally...

ESTONIA

supplies of food and warm beverages is

also recommended, especially on a long
journey.
Please give clear advice on what I am
required to do if I am involved in a
collision.
If there are injuries, or the road is
blocked, then you should call the police.
The number is 110. Try to help those
who are injured, and warn other road
users of the hazard. But do not put yourself in any further danger.

Local knowledge
Are there dangers to road users from
wildlife? If so, in which parts of your
country?
Driving on rural roads during the night
can be particularly hazardous. There are
a lot of moose and deer that can cause
severe injuries if you strike them.

People come to Estonia for

many different reasons. Perhaps
the most popular visitor attraction
is the Old Town of Tallinn, which
rates as the best preserved intact
medieval city in Europe. The
intricate and carefully painted
doors, the high towers, the amazing woodwork and the beautiful
cobbled streets all combine to
make it an unforgettable place.
Away from the city, there are historic manor houses offering good
value bed and breakast. There are
hundreds of kilometres of beach mostly deserted - and a fantastic
network of hiking trails through
forest and national
park.
Estonia is working hard to drive
down the number
of road casualties. We ask that you take care and think not only for
yourself but for the other driver who may not be quite so aware of
risks. Last of all. dont drink and drive. We enforce our zero limit
vigorously.

Riho Tanak
TISPOL, Estonia