DL - Traffic signs


Each group of road signs has its own shapes and colors to make it easier to recognize the signs. The driver must know the road signs to drive smoothly and safely in traffic. It is also essential to concentrate on driving and pay attention to all road signs. Although cars today have road sign recognition systems, the car can still give the driver the wrong speed limit.

Check traffic signs by selecting a traffic sign group

Warning signs warn of the situation ahead in advance. Right-of-way and yield signs indicate driving turns. Compulsory signs are blue-and-white circular signs and must be obeyed. Regulatory signs contain several different signs.

Learn about different traffic signs by selecting the sign group at the top. See also road markings and traffic lights.




Motorway

A road sign indicating a motorway does not automatically include a speed limit. On a country road, which is also a motorway, the limit is normally 80 km/h. The speed limit on a motorway can be up to 120 km/h in the summer, but this is always indicated by a road sign.



A motorway always has an overtaking lane and deceleration and acceleration lanes. Driving is only permitted for motorized vehicles with a maximum permitted speed of at least 50 km/h. You are not allowed to stop, park, reverse or make a U-turn on a motorway.

When driving on a motorway, give way to anyone driving there. In the acceleration lane, accelerate to the maximum permitted speed before changing lanes. Don't rush into changing lanes, but continue in the acceleration lane until you reach a suitable speed. When exiting the motorway, move into the lane as soon as the deceleration lane begins and only then slow down.

Urban area traffic sign

In road traffic, an urban area means a densely built-up area. Often it is an urban area with apartments and residents, but industrial areas can also be considered an urban area.



When you enter a built-up area, the speed limit is automatically 50km/h. In most places in built-up areas, speed limits have been reduced. Usually, the limits in built-up areas are 30km/h or 40km/h, but 60km/h is also possible in built-up areas. When the built-up area ends, the limit is 80km/h.





Road Traffic Law 2020

The Road Traffic Act, which entered into force at the beginning of June 2020, is the largest reform ever to the Finnish Road Traffic Act. The reform also introduced many new road signs.

  • The yellow center line separating the lanes in road markings will be changed to white. In future, drivers will have to be more careful on roads with multiple lanes to avoid accidentally driving into the oncoming side of the center line separating the lanes.

  • Vehicle-specific restrictions will be removed for vans, pickup trucks, service trucks, touring cars and camper vans. In future, drivers of these vehicles will be allowed to drive at the maximum permitted speed indicated by road signs.

  • There will be changes to vehicle-specific speed limits. A light trailer with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 750kg may be towed by a passenger car or van at a speed of 100km/h, in compliance with the road-specific speed limits. Please note that you must check whether the trailer's axle structure has a maximum structural speed of 80km/h.

  • In future, you can also park or stop on the left side of the road in built-up areas in the direction of travel, if it does not endanger or hinder traffic. The driver's responsibility is considerably greater in this case, and especially when merging into traffic between cars, you must be particularly careful, because the driver does not have good visibility of oncoming traffic. It is no longer possible to conclude from the direction in which cars are parked whether the road is one-way.



  • Winter tires must be used from 1.11. to 31.3., if the weather or conditions require it. The use of studded tires can be prohibited by the attached traffic sign, but the ban does not apply to driving on property along the road.


  • The minimum speed sign indicates the minimum speed on the road in question, which should not be exceeded unless the traffic situation requires it. For example, in a traffic jam, the speed of a line of cars easily slows down below the minimum speed, but this is not a problem. This traffic sign can be used, for example, on the ring roads of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. If the maximum permitted speed limit is 80 km/h, the minimum speed could be, for example, 50 km/h.


  • The duty to give way at a cyclist's crossing resembles a pedestrian crossing sign. In most traffic situations, a cyclist crossing a pedestrian crossing is required to give way, but in these places, a motorist is required to give way. Motorists must be very careful. If pedestrian crossings currently in use are converted into bicycle crossings, the city must warn motorists of the changed duty to give way with a warning.
    When crossing a bicycle crossing, motorists must adjust their speed to a safe level so that a cyclist approaching from the side who is driving at a steady speed is not startled and the motorist does not have to apply emergency braking to avoid the danger. The recommended driving speed for a motorist at a cyclist's crossing is approximately 5 - 15 km/h, depending on visibility, but visibility must be taken into account when choosing your speed.
    Note! Motorists must also give way to cyclists after turning or when indicated by traffic signs.




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