Situation on the border with Finland. How not to get caught in a traffic jam

In connection with the increasing tourist activity between Russia and Finland on the border, there are constant problems with road transport. You can stand in line for several hours. How to be in this situation and is it possible to solve this problem?

Checkpoints

Why are cars checked for so long on the border with Finland? What happens at the checkpoint?

At each checkpoint in Russia there are 2-3 barriers, where 2-3 border guards are on duty. After checking the documents on each of you directly approach the point of clearance. Here you will also check your passports, put stamps on the exit and check your car. If you are traveling by truck, you will have to provide documents for the exported goods (invoices, transportation certificates, etc.). The cargo itself will also be checked. After crossing the border, everything is a bit simpler: there are fewer border guards in Finland, there is no such thorough inspection "near every pillar".

How not to get caught in a traffic jam?

One of the effective methods, which is actively practiced by both parties is the dissemination of information on automobile queues. For this purpose, radio broadcasts and Internet resources are used online. There are many sites in both countries that broadcast daily and every minute position on the border with Finland. These are forums where real-time motorists communicate, sites with data transfer from video cameras installed on the border, as well as official resources of checkpoints. On such sites the latest situation on the border with Finland is presented. With the help of satellites, the picture of the area is broadcast (in a schematic form), where the red line shows the length of the car plug.

Before the trip, be sure to check out the online broadcast to select the appropriate checkpoint. Pay attention also to the schedule of changes of border guards, some of them take up to 1.5 hours. In addition, carefully check all documents before the trip. Passports must be valid, declarations must be completed correctly.

Many motorists are deployed because of restrictions imposed by bailiffs. Basically, these are non-payers of alimony and taxes, to a small extent - those who did not pay fines traffic police. And in the latter case, regular tourists are already accustomed to taking with them a fresh printout of fines and fees, since not always these data fall into a single database of the traffic police.

And the easiest way not to stand in the car queue is to take a train or a bus. Of course, the road to the border will take longer than the car, but it will be more than paid off in that you will be screened in a few minutes. If you do not like waiting for a long time and you are not satisfied with the situation on the border with Finland, you can use the services of a road train, that is, put the car on a special platform, and drive yourself alongside in a compartment. But the given transportation is carried out only from Moscow, cost of such trip is high enough (more than 200 dollars one way), and the car should be submitted not less than 9 hours prior to departure.

Such different plugs

It should be noted that the situation on the border with Finland is highly dependent on the time of the year, the day of the week, the approaching holidays and the time of day. Complex situations arise when nature adds its own problems. Most of the traffic jams grow in the first snow (especially, accompanied by icing roads), in snow storms, when the road is thawed and rains. The longest traffic jams occur in those days when one country has a weekday, and in another - holiday. On the one hand, people go on business trips, and on the other - tourists to rest.

The queue is not for everyone

Very unpleasant is also the fact that queues exist not for everyone. A large number of motorists have some "important" documents and special passes, addresses the right friends and crosses the border out of turn. The situation on the border with Finland sometimes comes to ridiculous - on Saturday and before the holidays there is a traffic jam for those who are "no queue."

There is also a pleasant rule for tourists traveling with babies or pregnant women. In this case, you have the right to legally cross the border out of turn. The only thing, in case of pregnancy, you need to provide an appropriate certificate.

What is being done to reduce queues?

The introduction of a surveillance system really helps to reduce traffic jams on the border. During the holidays, additional windows open at the points and more employees work with each of the parties. For example, since December 30, more border guards have come to the Russian side, since January 6 - to the Finnish side. Some items from time to time are closed and rebuilt, increasing the number of access windows.

The governments of both countries are negotiating the introduction of the Estonian experience of getting rid of traffic jams - preliminary booking. Also, various projects are being developed to accept the experience of other states.

For people who often leave Russia, this is a whole problem - the border with Finland. The queue for reviews of tourists over the past five years has actually declined. If earlier it was possible to spend 5-6 hours to cross the border, now it takes 1-2 hours (not counting force majeure and changeovers). But in any case, to lose so much time, idle in a traffic jam, nobody wants.