Road signs in Finland
Road signs in Finland are formerly regulated in Tieliikenneasetus (5.3.1982/182), but is currently regulated in Siirtymäsäännökset (8.5.2020/360).
Most signs are based on pictograms, except signs like the prohibition-sign for stop at customs and the sign indicating a taxi rank. If the sign includes text, the text is written in Finnish or Swedish, except the stop sign and taxi signs which are written in English (some taxi signs are written in Finnish). Many roads and places in Finland have Finnish and Swedish names, so both are marked on the traffic signs. This is common in the Swedish-speaking areas on the southern and western coasts, whereas in the inland Swedish names are far less common. In northern Lapland there are also traffic signs in the Sámi language.
At many unregulated intersections the practice is to yield to traffic on-coming from the right, unless there is a “yield” or "give way” sign posted for the right on-coming traffic. This can be a problem on some streets since these signs are not always visible to traffic that does not have to yield. Therefore, unless a driver is experienced with the area and its signs, they should take care to give way to the right at an intersection, even if the road he or she is on appears to be the priority road.
Finnish road signs depict gender-neutral people with realistic (as opposed to stylized) silhouettes.
Major differences between Finnish and general European signs
Whereas European signs usually have white background on warning and prohibition signs, Finnish signs have a yellow/orange colour. This is for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of the sign during the winter, as white signs would be hard to see in the snow. Prohibition signs displaying a symbol other than a numeric value have a diagonal red line across them. Prohibition signs in Slovenia and Sweden are similar in this respect. In most European countries, however, such signs do not usually include a red line.
Warning signs
Warning signs are triangular, but in contrast to those of most other states using triangular warning signs, Finnish signs have yellow backgrounds, rather than white.
- Dangerous curve to right
(formerly used) - Dangerous curve to left
(formerly used) - Dangerous curves, first bend to right
(formerly used) - Dangerous curves, first bend to left
(formerly used) - Steep hill downwards
(formerly used) - Steep hill upwards
(formerly used) - Road narrows on both sides
- Two-way traffic
(formerly used) - Opening or swing bridge
(formerly used) - Quayside or ferry berth
(formerly used) - Queuing traffic
(formerly used) - Uneven road ahead
- Speed bumps
(formerly used) - Road works
(formerly used) - Loose chippings
(formerly used) - Slippery road
(formerly used) - Dangerous shoulders
(formerly used) - Pedestrian crossing
(formerly used) - Pedestrians
- Children
(formerly used) - Cyclists and moped riders on carriageway
(formerly used) - Skiers crossing
(formerly used) - Animals (Elk)
- Animals (Reindeer)
- Animals (Deer)
- Intersection with equal roads (give way to the vehicles coming from the right)
- Junction with a minor road
(formerly used) - Junction with a minor road
(formerly used) - Junction with a minor road
(formerly used) - Junction with a minor road
(formerly used) - Traffic signals
- Roundabout warning
(formerly used) - Tramway
- Level crossing without gates
- Level crossing with gates
- Distance to level crossing
- Distance to level crossing
- Distance to level crossing
- Single track level crossing
- Multitrack level crossing
- Falling rocks
(formerly used) - Low-flying aircraft
- Crosswind
(formerly used) - Other dangers
Priority signs
- Priority road
- End of priority road
- Priority over oncoming vehicles
(formerly used) - Priority for oncoming vehicles
(formerly used) - Give way
- Stop and give way
- Give way in bicycle path crossing
Prohibitory signs
Prohibitory signs are round with yellow backgrounds and red borders, except the no parking and no standing signs that have a blue background instead of yellow.
- Closed to all vehicles in both directions
- No power-driven vehicles
(formerly used) - No lorries
(formerly used) - No combinations of a vehicle and a trailer
(formerly used) - No tractors, construction vehicles etc.
(formerly used) - No motorcycles
(formerly used) - No off-road vehicles
(formerly used) - No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
- No buses
- No mopeds
(formerly used) - No cycles
(formerly used) - No cycles or mopeds
- No pedestrians
(formerly used) - No pedestrians or cycles
(formerly used) - No pedestrians, cycles or mopeds
- No equestrians
(formerly used) - No entry
- No left turn
(formerly used) - No right turn
(formerly used) - No U-turn
(formerly used) - No vehicles having an overall width exceeding [...] meters
(formerly used) - No vehicles having an overall height exceeding [...] meters
(formerly used) - No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding [...] meters
(formerly used) - No vehicles exceeding [...] tonnes laden weight
- No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding [...] tonnes laden weight or bearing capacity class
(formerly used) - No vehicles having a weight exceeding [...] tonnes on one axle
(formerly used) - No vehicles having a weight exceeding [...] tonnes on a tandem axle
(formerly used) - No overtaking
(formerly used) - End of overtaking restriction
(formerly used) - No overtaking by lorries
(formerly used) - End of overtaking by lorries restriction
(formerly used) - Speed limit
- End of speed limit
(formerly used) - Speed limit zone
- End of speed limit zone
(formerly used) - Prohibition or restriction applying to one or more traffic lanes
(formerly used) - No stopping or parking
(formerly used) - No parking
(formerly used) - No parking zone
(formerly used) - End of no parking zone
(formerly used) - Taxi waiting zone
(formerly used) - Taxi stopping zone
(formerly used) - Loading zon°
- Loading zone
- Alternative parking (prohibited on the odd days of month from 08:00 on that day until 08:00 on the next)
(formerly used) - Alternative parking (prohibited on the even days of month from 08:00 on that day until 08:00 on the next)
(formerly used) - Passing without stopping prohibited (customs control)
- Passing without stopping prohibited (police control)
(formerly used) - Minimum distance between power driven vehicles
(formerly used) - Vehicles equipped with studded tyres prohibited
Mandatory signs
Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.
- Direction to be followed (turn right only)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn left only)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (straight ahead only)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn right ahead)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn right ahead)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn right or continue straight ahead)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn left or continue straight ahead)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (turn left or right)
(formerly used) - Direction to be followed (proceed in any direction)
- Compulsory roundabout
(formerly used) - Pass this side (right side)
(formerly used) - Pass this side (left side)
(formerly used) - Pass either side
(formerly used) - Footpath
(formerly used) - Cycleway
(formerly used) - Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists
(formerly used) - Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists (dual track)
(formerly used) - Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists (dual track)
(formerly used) - Track for off-road vehicles
(formerly used) - Track for rider on horseback
(formerly used) - Minimum speed limit
- End of minimum speed limit
Special regulation signs
- Pedestrian crossing
(formerly used) - Park and ride
- Park and ride
- Park and ride
- Park and ride
- Park and ride
- Parking
- Placing vehicles on a parking place
- Placing vehicles on a parking place
- Placing vehicles on a parking place
- Passing place (on narrow roads)
(formerly used) - Bus stop
(formerly usedfor local traffic and for long-distance traffic) - Tramway stop
(formerly used) - Taxi station
- Bus lane (sign above the line)
- Bus and taxi lane (sign above the line)
- End of bus lane (sign above the line)
(formerly used) - End of bus and taxi lane (sign above the line)
(formerly used) - Tramway lane (sign above the line)
- Tramway and taxi lane (sign above the line)
- End of tramway lane (sign above the line)
(formerly used) - End of tramway and taxi lane (sign above the lane)
(formerly used) - Cycle lane (sign above the line)
- Cycle lane (sign above the line)
- One-way traffic
- One-way traffic
(formerly used) - Motorway
- End of motorway (formerly used
) - Road for motor vehicles (formerly used
) - End of road for motor vehicles (formerly used
) - Tunnel
- End of tunnel
(formerly used) - Emergency stopping place
- End of built-up area
- Residential area
- End of residential area
- Pedestrian zone
- End of pedestrian zone
Information signs
- Advance direction sign (type A)
- Advance direction sign (type B)
- Advisory sign for detour
- Advisory sign for detour
- Detour
- Route to be followed (in order to turn left)
- Information on traffic lanes
- Information on traffic lanes
- End of lane
- Advance direction sign (above the lane; type A)
- Advance direction sign (above the lane; type B)
- Exit sign (above the lane)
- Direction sign
- Exit sign
- Direction sign on private road
- Location sign
- Advance location sign
- Direction sign for light traffic (pedestrian and cycle traffic)
- Direction sign for detour
- Direction sign for detour
- Direction sign for local purposes
- Direction sign showing a motorway or road for motor vehicles
- Direction sign showing park-and-ride facilities
- No through road
- No through road
- Recommended maximum speed
- Sign showing distances
- Place name
- Road number (E-road; European route)
- Road number (primary road; main road, Class I; 1–39)
- Road number (secondary road; main road, Class II; 40–99)
- Road number (regional road; 100–999)
- Road number (ordinary road; connecting road; 1000–9999)
- Direction to the numbered road
- Symbol of motorway
- Symbol of road for motor vehicles
- Airport
- Ferry
- Goods harbour
- Industrial area
- Parking
- Railway station
- Bus station
- Itinerary for indicated vehicle category
- Itinerary for pedestrians
- Itinerary for handicapped
- Itinerary for transport of dangerous goods
- Overpass or underpass with steps
- Overpass or underpass without steps
- Emergency exit
- Direction to emergency exit
Service signs
- Information sign for services
- Information sign for services
- Advance information sign for services
- Location sign for tourist service
- Advance location sign for tourist service
- Radio station (frequency in MHz)
- Information point
- Information centre
- First-aid
- Breakdown service
- Filling station
- Hotel or motel
- Restaurant
- Cafeteria or refreshments
- Public lavatory
- Youth hostel
- Camping site
- Caravan site
- Picnic site
- Outing site
- Tourist route
- Tourist route
- Museum or historic building
- Nature site
- Viewpoint
- Zoo
- Other tourist attraction
- Swimming place
- Fishing place
- Ski lift
- Golf course
- Pleasure or theme park
- Cottage accommodation
- Bed and breakfast
- Direct sale
- Handicrafts
- Farm park
- Horseback riding
- Emergency telephone
- Extinguisher
Additional panels
- Sign applies to crossing road
- Sign applies in the direction of the arrow
- Sign applies [...] km in the direction of the arrow
- Distance to which the sign applies
- Distance from the sign to the point to which the sign applies
- Distance to the compulsory stop
- Free width
- Free height
- Height of electric line
- Sign applies to both directions
- Sign applies to both directions
- Sign applies in the direction of the arrow
- Regulation begins from the sign
- Regulation ends to the sign
- Passenger car
- Bus
- Lorry
- Vehicle combination
- Van
- Caravan
- Vehicle for handicapped
- Motorcycle
- Moped
- Cycle
- Method of parking
- Method of parking
- No entry for vehicles carrying dangerous goods of group A
- No drive-through for vehicles carrying dangerous goods of group B
- Sign applies between 08.00 and 17.00 hours, Mo-Fr
- Sign applies between 08.00 and 13.00 hours, on Saturdays
- Sign applies between 08.00 and 14.00 hours, on Sundays and holidays
- Time limit
- Parking against fee
- Parking against fee
- Obligatory use of parking disc
- Obligatory use of parking disc
- Direction of priority road
- Direction of priority road
- Crossing of log transport road
- Two-way cycle track
- Additional panel with text ”Occasionally foggy”
- Additional panel with text ”Driving in service purposes allowed”
- Emergency telephone and extinguisher
Retired signs (no more used)
Attention signs
- General attention (1937–1957)
- School (1937–1957)
Warning signs
- Winding road (1937–1974)
- Pedestrian crossing (1969–1980's)
- Children (1957–1974)
- Crossroads (1937–1974)
- Tramway (1957–1982)
- Other dangers (1937–1994)
- Level crossing front (1932–1970's)
- Single track level crossing (1932–1974)
- Multitrack level crossing (1932–1974)
Priority signs
- Priority road (1939–1957)
- End of priority road (1939–1957)
- Priority for oncoming vehicles (1969–1995)
- Give way (1937–1994)
- Stop (1957–1971)
Prohibitory signs
- No power-driven vehicles (1937-1957)
- No power-driven vehicles (1957-1982)
- No cars (1937-1957)
- No lorries (1957–1982)
- No motorcycles (1957–1982)
- No cycles (1957–1982)
- No pedestrians (1969–1982)
- No left turn (1957–1982)
- No right turn (1957–1982)
- No overtaking (1937–1957)
- No parking (1937–1969)
- No stopping or parking (1937–1969)
- No horns (1937–1957)
- Speed limit (1937–1969)
- End of speed limit (1957–1969)
Mandatory signs
- Direction to be followed (1937–1957)
- Direction to be followed (1957–1974)
- Pass this side (1957–1974)
- Pass either side (1957–1974)
- Footpath (1937-1957)
- Footpath (1957-1974)
- Footpath (1974-1982)
- Cycleway (1937-1957)
- Cycleway (1957-1974)
Special regulation signs
- Pedestrian crossing (1957-1974)
- Pedestrian crossing (1974-1985)
- One-way street (1957-1982)
- Motorway (1962–1982)
- End of motorway (1962–1982)
- Bus lane (1972–1994)
- End of bus lane (1972–1994)
- Bus stop (long-distance) (1957-1974)
- Bus stop (long-distance) (1974–1994)
- Bus stop (local) (1957-1974)
- Bus stop (local) (1974–1994)
Information signs
- Lane preselection (1957–1982)
- Lane preselection (1957–1982)
- Lane preselection (1957–1982)
- Road number (secondary road; main road, Class II; 40–99) (1937-1994)
- Road number (regional road; 100–999) (1960's-1994)
- Direction sign (1937–1960's)
- Direction sign showing highways (1937–1960's)
- Direction sign showing main roads (1937–1960's)
- Direction sign on villages or municipal roads (1937–1960's)
- Direction sign on private roads (1937–1960's)
- Direction sign on through roads for local purposes (1937–1960's)
- Advance direction sign (1957–1960's)
- Information on traffic lanes (1969–1982)
- Direction sign for detour (1970's–1994)
- Advisory sign for detour (1970's–1994)
- Detour (1970's–1994)
Service signs
- Tourist route (1994–2007)
- Information point (1969–2007)
- Telephone (1982–2007)
- Emergency telephone (1978–2007)
- Tourist attraction (1969–2007)
- Swimming place (1969–2007)
- Fishing place (1982–2007)
- Ski lift (1982–2007)
- Direct sale (1994–2007)