Road signs in Finland

Road signs in Finland are regulated in Tieliikenneasetus (5.3.1982/182).

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 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.

Gallery

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.

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  Dangerous curve to right
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  Dangerous curve, bend to left
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  Dangerous curves, first bend to right
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  Dangerous curves, first bend to left
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  Steep hill downwards
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  Steep hill upwards
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  Road narrows on both sides
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  Two-way traffic
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  Opening or swing bridge
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  Quayside or ferry berth
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  Queuing traffic
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  Uneven road ahead
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  Speed bumps
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  Road works
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  Loose chippings
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  Slippery road
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  Dangerous shoulders
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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Children
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  Cyclists and moped riders on carriageway
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  Skiers crossing
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  Animals (moose)
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  Animals (reindeer)
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  Intersection with equal roads (give way to the vehicles coming from the right)
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  Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° left, 90° right
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  Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 90° left
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  Junction with a road the users of which must give way, 45° right
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  Traffic signals
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  Roundabout warning
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  Tramway
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  Level crossing without gates
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  Level crossing with gates
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  Distance to level crossing
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  Single track level crossing
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  Multitrack level crossing
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  Falling rocks
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  Low-flying aircraft
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  Crosswind
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  Other dangers

Priority signs

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  Priority road
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  End of priority road
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  Priority over oncoming vehicles
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  Priority for oncoming vehicles
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  Give way
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  Stop (and give way)

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.

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  Closed to all vehicles in both directions
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  No power-driven vehicles
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  No lorries or vans
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  No combinations (of a vehicle and a trailer)
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  No tractors, construction vehicles etc.
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  No motorcycles
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  No off-road vehicles
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  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
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  No buses
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  No mopeds
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  No cycles or mopeds
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  No pedestrians
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  No pedestrians, cycles or mopeds
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  No riding
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  No entry
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  No left turn
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  No right turn
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  No U-turns
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  No vehicles having an overall width exceeding [...] meters
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  No vehicles having an overall height exceeding [...] meters
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  No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding [...] meters
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  No vehicles exceeding [...] tonnes laden weight
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  No vehicles or combination of vehicles exceeding [...] tonnes laden weight or bearing capacity class
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  No vehicles having a weight exceeding [...] tonnes on one axle
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  No vehicles having a weight exceeding [...] tonnes on a tandem axle
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  No overtaking
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  End of overtaking restriction
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  No overtaking by lorries
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  End of overtaking by lorries restriction
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  Speed limit
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  End of speed limit
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  Speed limit zone
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  End of speed limit zone
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  Prohibition or restriction applying to one or more traffic lanes
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  No standing or parking
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  No parking
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  No parking zone
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  End of no parking zone
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  Taxi station zone
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  Taxies stopping place
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  Alternative parking (prohibited on the odd days of month from 08:00 on that day until 08:00 on the next)
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  Alternative parking (prohibited on the even days of month from 08:00 on that day until 08:00 on the next)
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  Passing without stopping prohibited (customs control)
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  Passing without stopping prohibited (police control or other reason)
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  Minimum distance between power driven vehicles

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs are always round blue signs with white border.

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  Direction to be followed. Right only
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  Direction to be followed. Straight ahead only
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  Direction to be followed. Turn right
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  Direction to be followed. Turn right or continue straight ahead.
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  Direction to be followed. Turn left or right.
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  Compulsory roundabout
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  Pass this side
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  Pass this side. Either side
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  Footpath
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  Cycleway
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  Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists
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  Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists. Dual track
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  Compulsory track for pedestrians and cyclists. Dual track
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  Track for off-road vehicles
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  Track for rider on horseback

Special regulation signs

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  Pedestrian crossing
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  Park and ride
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  Park and ride
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  Parking
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  Placing vehicles on a parking place
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  Placing vehicles on a parking place
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  Placing vehicles on a parking place
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  Passing place (on narrow roads)
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  Bus stop for local traffic
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  Bus stop for long-distance traffic
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  Tramway stop
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  Taxi station
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  Bus lane (sign above the line)
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  Bus and taxi lane (sign above the line)
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  End of bus lane (sign above the line)
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  End of bus and taxi lane (sign above the line)
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  Tramway lane (sign above the line)
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  Tramway and taxi lane (sign above the lane)
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  End of tramway lane (sign above the line)
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  End of tramway and taxi lane (sign above the lane)
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  One-way traffic
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  Motorway
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  End of motorway
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  Road for motor vehicles
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  End of road for motor vehicles
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  Tunnel
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  End of tunnel
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  Emergency stopping place
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  Built-up area
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  End of built-up area
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  Residential area
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  End of residential area
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  Pedestrian zone
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  End of pedestrian zone

Signs giving information

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  Advance direction sign (type A)
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  Advance direction sign (type B)
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  Advisory sign for detour
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  Advisory sign for detour
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  Detour
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  Route to be followed (in order to turn left)
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  Information on traffic lanes
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  Information on traffic lanes
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  End of lane
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  Advance direction sign (above the lane; type A)
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  Advance direction sign (above the lane; type B)
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  Exit sign (above the lane)
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  Direction sign
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  Exit sign
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  Direction sign on private road
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  Location sign
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  Advance location sign
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  Direction sign for light traffic (pedestrian and cycle traffic)
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  Direction sign for detour
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  Direction sign for detour
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  Direction sign for local purposes
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  Direction sign showing a motorway or road for motor vehicles
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  Direction sign showing park-and-ride facilities
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  No through road
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  No through road
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  Recommended maximum speed
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  Sign showing distances
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  Place name
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  Road number (E-road; European route)
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  Road number (primary road; main road, Class I; 1–39)
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  Road number (secondary road; main road, Class II; 40–99)
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  Road number (regional road; 100–999)
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  Road number (ordinary road; connecting road; 1000–9999)
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  Direction to the numbered road
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  Symbol of motorway
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  Symbol of road for motor vehicles
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  Airport
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  Ferry
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  Goods harbour
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  Industrial area
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  Parking
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  Railway station
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  Bus station
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  Itinerary for indicated vehicle category
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  Itinerary for pedestrians
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  Itinerary for handicapped
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  Itinerary for transport of dangerous goods
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  Overpass or underpass with steps
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  Overpass or underpass without steps
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  Emergency exit
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  Direction to emergency exit

Service guide signs

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  Information sign for services
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  Information sign for services
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  Advance information sign for services
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  Location sign for tourist service
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  Advance location sign for tourist service
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  Radio station (frequency in MHz)
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  Information point
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  Information centre
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  First-aid
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  Breakdown service
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  Filling station
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  723. Hotel or motel
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  Restaurant
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  Cafeteria or refreshments
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  Public lavatory
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  Youth hostel
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  Camping site
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  Caravan site
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  Picnic site
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  Outing site
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  Tourist route
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  Tourist route
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  Museum or historic building
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  World Heritage Site
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  Nature site
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  Viewpoint
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  Zoo
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  Other tourist attraction
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  Swimming place
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  Fishing place
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  Ski lift
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  Golf course
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  Pleasure or theme park
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  Cottage accommodation
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  Bed and breakfast
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  Direct sale
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  Handicrafts
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  Farm park
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  Horseback riding
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  Emergency phone
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  Extinguisher

Additional panels

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  Sign applies to crossing road
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  Sign applies in the direction of the arrow
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  Sign applies [...] km in the direction of the arrow
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  Distance to which the sign applies
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  Distance from the sign to the point to which the sign applies
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  Distance to the compulsory stop
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  Free width
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  Free height
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  Height of electric line
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  Sign applies to both directions
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  Sign applies to both directions
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  Sign applies in the direction of the arrow
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  Regulation begins from the sign
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  Regulation ends to the sign
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  Passenger car
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  Bus
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  Lorry
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  Vehicle combination
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  Van
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  Caravan
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  Vehicle for handicapped
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  Motorcycle
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  Moped
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  Cycle
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  Method of parking
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  Method of parking
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  No entry for vehicles carrying dangerous goods of group A
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  No drive-through for vehicles carrying dangerous goods of group B
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  Sign applies between 08.00 and 17.00 hours, Mo-Fr
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  Sign applies between 08.00 and 13.00 hours, on Saturdays
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  Sign applies between 08.00 and 14.00 hours, on Sundays and holidays
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  Time limit
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  Parking against fee
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  Parking against fee
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  Obligatory use of parking disc
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  Obligatory use of parking disc
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  Direction of priority road
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  Direction of priority road
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  Crossing of log transport road
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  Two-way cycle track
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  Additional panel with text ”Occasionally foggy”
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  Additional panel with text ”Driving in service purposes allowed”
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  Emergency telephone and extinguisher

References

• http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/www2/liikennemerkit/index.htm