Speeding in Sweden

[Matthew]

In June I'm going to Sweden for two weeks. I'll be taking my car.

I am concerned about speed limit enforcement and penalties.

How strict are the Swedish police when enforcing limits? Are there any speed cameras? How harsh are the fines, and do they have a points system? Can they confiscate a foreign driver's licence?

Arguments about the rights and wrongs of speeding can be saved for a different thread.

[widuck1]

I'm pretty sure the fines are huge, enforcement pretty strong, and if you have a couple of drinks before driving you are in jail for a year. I'd go with the flow, traffic-wise.

Good luck,

John
1997 900S 2.3 5 speed 'vert

[JonV]

My son spent some time in Sweden and has mentioned to me it's basically Socially unnacceptable to have any Alcohol and Drive. He did get stopped for an illegal turn but was sent on his way with a polite warning.

[ShadowWorks]

Always be nice and say your a tourist

[escalator guru]

Originally Posted by JonV

My son spent some time in Sweden and has mentioned to me it's basically Socially unnacceptable to have any Alcohol and Drive.

I would think that it's socially unacceptable in most industrialized countries!

[JonV]

Originally Posted by escalator guru

I would think that it's socially unacceptable in most industrialized countries!

Well what the situation was, he inquired why the group of people going out was walking to town, his hosts pointed out that when going out to Party folks would walk or take a bus or taxi, as to opposed to driving to the Pub or Tavern...it just wasn't done. As opposed to folks that stop off after work, have a few and drive home or go Bar Hopping with the car at night. As is done too often in the US.

[Matthew]

The legal blood alcohol threshold in Sweden is 0.2%. You cannot drink even one beer and hop in your car.

[RastaSaab]

Originally Posted by widuck1

I'm pretty sure the fines are huge, enforcement pretty strong, and if you have a couple of drinks before driving you are in jail for a year. I'd go with the flow, traffic-wise.

Good luck,

John
1997 900S 2.3 5 speed 'vert

Are you serious about 1 year in jail?? Wow

[SAABotaged900S]

Originally Posted by Matthew

The legal blood alcohol threshold in Sweden is 0.2%. You cannot drink even one beer and hop in your car.

I'd imagine the measurement systems are the same, but our percentage here is .08

Still, this thread is a good idea for those who may be travelling to Sweden in the near future to get these local legal stances out there, as you dont want a slicktop 9-5 patrol car bearing down on you with blue lights

[SMHarman]

Post 1 asked about speeding post 2 talked about drinking!

The EU does not yet have anythhing like the Drivers Licence Compact to move points between member states.

So big fines. Don't know how they work in Sweden, but if it is like France they will take you to the nearest ATM to pay them.

[widuck1]

but that sort of penalty for DUI is the norm for Scandanavia, maybe rest of Europe too. Finland bases traffic fines on your actual salary, so a rich guy feels the same pain as a poor guy. A recent case with a Nokia top brass haulin' along on his Harley got a speeding fine something like 100,000 US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1759791.stm

Don't forget the speed cameras too,

John

[woywitka]

haha Matthew wants to race in Sweden

[900t]

Matt:

Far as I know, Sweden uses K-band speed cameras (very easy to detect and also you can use GPS) and mobile laser traps with police. You'll have to watch for laser if you aren't using an active countermeasure but a normal radar detector would serve you well on the cameras. Use of a radar detector is illegal mind you and there is the potential of RDD's being in use. But as far as I know, the RD use isn't as strictly enforced as it is in say Finland or Holland.

Obviously use discretion however the situation there isn't as revenue-oriented as it is in the UK. That said, there are real police out there so it's not all fun and games

[Chris 9-5]

Stay home Matt cos we are all gonna worry otherwise

[TheRedBaron]

Originally Posted by escalator guru

I would think that it's socially unacceptable in most industrialized countries!

Not in the good ol' USA! In New Orleans they literally have drive-thru daquiri shops that only sell daquiris and give them to you in "to-go cups."

As an alternative to not speeding, why not just risk gettting a ticket? If you get one you can just never go back! It's not like there going to extradite you or something for speeding...

[900t]

Exactly... this is Sweden we are talking about, don't forget the natural calmness of northerners It's not like... New York State or something

[SAABotaged900S]

Originally Posted by 900t

Exactly... this is Sweden we are talking about, don't forget the natural calmness of northerners It's not like... New York State or something

I mean come on man you took a trailer on the Parkway! Of course the troopers are gonna ride your tail for that! (though you got away with it undetected by the NYPD)

Either that or the troopers simply dont like out-of-staters, especially those we share a border with, though I'm yet to see a car with QC plates getting the smackdown by a smokey.

[900t]

Originally Posted by SAABotaged900S

I mean come on man you took a trailer on the Parkway! Of course the troopers are gonna ride your tail for that! (though you got away with it undetected by the NYPD)

Either that or the troopers simply dont like out-of-staters, especially those we share a border with, though I'm yet to see a car with QC plates getting the smackdown by a smokey.

It's not so bad round NYC but man the Thruway & Northway my god!

The Troopers did get me for the trailer on the Taconic when I tried to take it just after the start of the Thruway to avoid the blasted tolls down 87... funny that the toll cashier didn't at all mention anything, but after 10 mins down the parkway "whoop whoop" Crown Vic...

A friend of mine got "double-****ed" a while back... 84/55 zone in NYS. Pays ticket (~$250?). Then gets "Driver Responsability Assessment Surcharge" ($300) or else NY gets on his ***. THEN Quebec found out about it and added points to his license here, and got another $300 up the wazoo AND insurance probably goes up. On a stretch of Interstate where his speed was not at all excessive or even moderately quick.

What creeps me out about I-87 is everyone does 60-65 (because of the enforcement) in the north. But when I was going down 89 in Vermont recently, I got passed by a Quebecker in a Ford Escape and I didn't have the balls to keep up with him (my winter tires have a speed rating at 100 MPH and I didn't feel to exceed it, and 95 was comfortable ) Everybody was doing 75-85 and I felt much more in my element

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

...but if it is like France they will take you to the nearest ATM to pay them.

In France they revoke your right to drive in their country - immediate driving ban.

Originally Posted by woywitka

haha Matthew wants to race in Sweden

These cars were made to be driven

[Jezzadee]

I've driven in Sweden a few times, and from what I recall:

Originally Posted by Matthew

How strict are the Swedish police when enforcing limits?

Very.

Are there any speed cameras?

Yes. Mainly Truvelo. Also radar traps. But not so many as UK.

How harsh are the fines

Harsh, man.

and do they have a points system?

Yes.

Can they confiscate a foreign driver's licence?

Yes. I think it is similar to Norway where if you do more than 30kmh over the limit (IIRC) you are likely to lose your licence.

On the plus side, it's a big, empty country, so you are much less likely to come across a camera.