No, applying makeup while driving in Finland is illegal under the Road Traffic Act (Liikennelaki 729/2018), as it constitutes distracted driving. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) enforces this under Section 6, which prohibits any activity diverting attention from safe vehicle operation. Violations may result in fines or penalty points.
Key Regulations for Applying Makeup While Driving in Finland
- Distracted Driving Prohibition: Under the Road Traffic Act, any action—including applying cosmetics—that impairs a driver’s ability to control the vehicle is prohibited. This aligns with EU-wide efforts to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030, as mandated by the European Commission’s 2026 road safety strategy.
- Traficom’s Enforcement: The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) actively monitors distracted driving cases, with police empowered to issue fines (€110–€220) or record penalty points for repeat offenses.
- Mirror Use Restrictions: Even using a vehicle’s sun visor mirror to apply makeup is considered a distraction, as it requires diverting gaze from the road. Courts have upheld convictions under Section 6 for such cases, citing “visible inattention.”
Legal Precedent: In 2023, the Helsinki District Court upheld a €150 fine for a driver caught applying lipstick, affirming that cosmetic application constitutes “manual, visual, or cognitive distraction.” The ruling referenced Traficom’s 2022 guidelines, which explicitly list makeup use as a high-risk behavior.