Can you drive a snowmobile on the ice of any lake? The general right of way does not cancel the given restrictions

/ Nature
Moving the bridge over Railo with an ATV.
Driving a motor vehicle is not allowed on all lake ice. You can check the restrictions on the Environmental Administration’s website.

Motor vehicles are allowed to travel on the ice of the lake, but the restrictions must be taken into account. Some of the restrictions apply to the whole lake, not just a part of it.

In addition to safety issues, questions have also been raised as to whether driving a motor vehicle is always allowed on ice?

According to the legislation, driving a motor vehicle in an ice-covered water area is based on the general right of way. However, when using the rights, the Land Traffic Act must be taken into account.

Private individuals, communities and owners of water areas can submit a request to the ely center for the imposition of a regional driving ban or restriction. The decision takes into account, among other things, potential harm to nature or other environments.

Heikkilä admits that there are so many sections and restrictions nowadays that it is unclear to many what is allowed where.

For example, the city of Tampere has applied for restrictions on Lake Näsijärvi so that motor vehicles are not allowed to drive south of Nuoralahti and Myllyniemi. The exception to this is the area intended for training in slippery weather.

– There are many prohibited areas and they can be extensive. Pyhäjärvi and many Pikkujärvi belong to the prohibited list.

Track master Pekka Tyllilä.
An ice-covered water area is defined in the law as terrain in those parts when it is not an ice road intended for road traffic. In the picture, Pekka Tyllilä, who maintains Näsijärvi’s excursion skating rink.

Walk with respect for residents and nature

Before starting your drive towards the ice routes, you should check the possible restrictions. Water and land traffic restrictions by region can be found on the ymparisto.fi website.

In addition to this, a few other points must be taken into account. Like the fact that a motor vehicle can be driven on ice by a person over the age of 15 and the vehicle must have traffic insurance. The road traffic law must be followed on the state-maintained ice road, i.e. only a person with a driver’s license can drive there.

– You must also always take into account the natural conditions. Are there currents and what is the condition of the ice. The ice must be moved in such a way that it does not disturb nature or the people living on the shores, Vesa-Pekka Heikkilä instructs.