Road Traffic Act

[MikeD]

I honestly can't believe that people find this particular rule so difficult. There are those white/yellow diamond signs after each intersection on practically all major roads and through roads, so if you keep your eyes open you know you have the right of way. As a rule of thumb, in most places, if the speed limit is 60 km/h (or even 50 km/h) or higher, you will have the right of way, and if you won't, there's usually this sign to give you advance warning. Most intersections on the bigger streets in cities and towns have traffic lights, which means that it's mostly only on smaller streets in the centres and in residential areas that you have to check if there's a yield sign or not - and that helps to keep the speeds down.

US-style four-way stop signs would never work in Finland. After all, if there is an accident, there's no way of proving who was there first. Besides, I'd hate to see stop signs everywhere, they should only be placed in intersections where visibility is limited.

[riku2]

it is quite common for notable intersections to have the "yellow" diamond. But they are right AFTER the intersection.

this might be the case for main roads, but if you drive in pitajanmaki then the "side" roads have give way signs, so you don't stop for them, but the main roads are not marked with yellow diamonds.

finns seem quite keen to defend the logic of looking for the back of a road sign, but coming from the UK, the roads in finland are laid out more like something from the 50's. motorway junction numbers only arrived here a few years ago, lower case is yet to arrive on road signs, same goes for honeycomb reflective signs. some extra budget for repainting white lines would not go amiss either - no wonder drivers don't stop for pedestrian crossings when the crossing has become invisible. the same goes for stop lines at traffic lights (sometimes forgotten to be painted in). and when roads are widened with extra lanes then the signs above should be updated to match (can be 1-2 years or more behind before the signs match the lanes again).

[Tiwaz]

And those extremely minor side roads (which connect to another road which does not have diamond) have so huge amount of traffic that it would actually warrant for increased expenditure?


Realitycheck here people!

Those side roads have funny triangles on those roads where they have to give way!

So only idiot manages to drive an accident there if neither party disregards traffic rules.
You slowing down, when you have right of way, to see if the other car has triangle or not does NOT somehow take much time off your life.
Meanwhile, having triangle means the person who has to give way knows they have no business in intersection when someone else is coming.

Even on countryside, and I drive there a lot, those diamonds are commonplace. They just are AFTER the goddamned intersection to mark that right of way area begins.


And if someone is so stupid they do not know how and where to stop before traffic lights when they hit red.... I think they should turn in their license and switch to walking.

Specially considering that lots of those lines are during winter completely invisible in large portions of the country...

[MikeD]

finns seem quite keen to defend the logic of looking for the back of a road sign, but coming from the UK, the roads in finland are laid out more like something from the 50's.

Many country roads in Finland are from the 50's, so that would only be logical.

motorway junction numbers only arrived here a few years ago,

True. I suppose they must be of some use to someone. If I need to give directions, I'll most likely remember what it says on the sign but not the number of the junction.

lower case is yet to arrive on road signs,

And what would be the benefit in that?

some extra budget for repainting white lines would not go amiss either - no wonder drivers don't stop for pedestrian crossings when the crossing has become invisible. the same goes for stop lines at traffic lights (sometimes forgotten to be painted in).

In most parts of the country, road markings are covered by snow and ice for several months a year which means that there have to be signs to accompany them. Most road markings are repainted every spring, believe it or not. Stop lines at traffic lights are optional (not to mention largely pointless).

and when roads are widened with extra lanes then the signs above should be updated to match (can be 1-2 years or more behind before the signs match the lanes again).

Any examples of this?

[umit]

I don't know any country where that would be the case. Do you?

Yes, for example in the UK. Actually, I have never driven a car there, but saw many times how the drivers give way to those signaling to pull out of the alongside parking.

Maybe it is not written in the law, but it seems to be common practice among respectful drivers. BTW there is no legal obstacle for you to stop and give way to someone coming out of parking. I apply it here in Finland, too. If I am the only car on the street, then he/she can wait me to pass, but if there is a queue behind me I would stop and give way no matter what the other drivers think.

[umit]

For those who defend this rule and blame others to be idiots that cannot manage to follow the basic rules...

I tried my best to create the exact scheme that I encounter almost everyday.

Car Nr.1 is mine and I'm driving with 30 km/h. I slow down and even stop before the pedestrian crossing. I check there is no sign for me and no triangle for the right side. The corner of the building is limiting my vision, but there is no car as far as I can see. So I proceed slowly. Then while I am on the pedestrian crossing I see the Car Nr.2 is approaching from right. I have to wait and give way to that driver. Then comes the third car, then the fourth, fifth... I wait in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, ashamed of blocking the people.

My conclusion is:
a) There is something wrong with the right has the right of way rule here, or
b) There is no need to be ashamed of blocking the pedestrian crossing or junction itself...

[MikeD]

For those who defend this rule and blame others to be idiots that cannot manage to follow the basic rules...

I tried my best to create the exact scheme that I encounter almost everyday.

Car Nr.1 is mine and I'm driving with 30 km/h. I slow down and even stop before the pedestrian crossing. I check there is no sign for me and no triangle for the right side. The corner of the building is limiting my vision, but there is no car as far as I can see. So I proceed slowly. Then while I am on the pedestrian crossing I see the Car Nr.2 is approaching from right. I have to wait and give way to that driver. Then comes the third car, then the fourth, fifth... I wait in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, ashamed of blocking the people.

My conclusion is:
a) There is something wrong with the right has the right of way rule here, or
b) There is no need to be ashamed of blocking the pedestrian crossing or junction itself...

Intersections like that are traffic planners' way of telling you that they really don't like you driving your car there. I suppose you have your reasons...

[umit]

Intersections like that are traffic planners' way of telling you that they really don't like you driving your car there. I suppose you have your reasons...

Himmm... Interesting!! At first it sounds like the most stupid explanation for the situation, but my navigation device also tries to avoid that street although there is no sensible reason!

My reason is: it is the shortest way to home...

[chickensexer]

For those who defend this rule and blame others to be idiots that cannot manage to follow the basic rules...

I tried my best to create the exact scheme that I encounter almost everyday.

Car Nr.1 is mine and I'm driving with 30 km/h. I slow down and even stop before the pedestrian crossing. I check there is no sign for me and no triangle for the right side. The corner of the building is limiting my vision, but there is no car as far as I can see. So I proceed slowly. Then while I am on the pedestrian crossing I see the Car Nr.2 is approaching from right. I have to wait and give way to that driver. Then comes the third car, then the fourth, fifth... I wait in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, ashamed of blocking the people.

My conclusion is:
a) There is something wrong with the right has the right of way rule here, or
b) There is no need to be ashamed of blocking the pedestrian crossing or junction itself...

Intersections like that are traffic planners' way of telling you that they really don't like you driving your car there. I suppose you have your reasons...

I really don't see a problem othen that you simply don't know how to use this "right side" rule...

Look, if you don't have any signs on your piece of road it means you have to prepare for equal crossing and look out for those coming from the right. So does the "blue" car. They have to be prepared for yielding to THEIR right, thus they also pull towards the intersection slower than their original speed. In case if you came a little earlier this delay would be enough for you to be already INSIDE the intersection space, thus the "blue" one will see that the intersection is ALREADY occupied. Noone expects you tpull back lut of the intersection to give way on your right if you are already there...

I drive trhough those intersections, too, and I DON'T look for "other people's" signs and I DON'T have any problems. I just slow down before each intersection to see if someone is coming from the right. If no - I proceed. If yes - I wait, BEFORE the pedestrian crossing. If I discover them already AFTER the pedestrian crossing - it's too late for them to claim the intersection that is already occupied, especially since they are checking for their intersection on the right. And if someone is actually coming from my left - they are either ALREADY in the intersection, and of course I let them go. Or I pulled there before and therefore they naturally would yield cuz I'm coming from their right...

Sorry, but I really don't see any problem if you know what you are doing.

As for hoping to be given way while pulling out of the parking place - hello! That's what driving schoold instructors keep their eyes on while seating in a car with you - whether you checked your left mirror before pulling out and YIELDED if needed. If not - they'll make it very clear to you how big of a mistake you just made. Also because expecting the road traffic to slow down and queue for a parking pull out is against any logics. In driving SAFETY goes BEFORE chivalry.

Really, if you don't understand how these 2 things - what are you doing driving...

[chickensexer]

Himmm... Interesting!! At first it sounds like the most stupid explanation for the situation, but my navigation device also tries to avoid that street although there is no sensible reason!

My reason is: it is the shortest way to home...

There is a sensible reason, it's just it's not nesessarily displayed on your screen. That road is one of those of the lowest functional class. Your nav system is likely configured to pick the highest functional possible between A and B.

[Pursuivant]

[
The other thing I don't like about Finland traffic is nobody stops to give way to you, when you give signal and want to move your car parked along side the road. You have to check through the mirror to see if everybody passed and it is safe to get out... Then what is the meaning of giving signal???

So you drive a bus then I gather

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Finnish driving is pretty none cooperative...but you just have to adjust to that, make sure you're in the correct lane well in advance etc etc...Or just ram people out of the way. nothing you can do about it. It's funny cos most finns would agree with you...but don't seem to do anything themselves.

Finns, to me, aren't the most generous or helpful people around, so you can't expect them to be helpful when there's no face-to-face contact. they can hide behind the wheel and never confront you...If he can get home 2 seconds before you do, that makes his day...If people are that petty, all you can do is laugh it off and flip him off too. nnln

(yes, yes, yes...there's exceptions to every rule)

That giving way to the right is quite dumb to me too...but the simple fact is, it's the rule and you have to obey it..no point getting caught up in it....I'm usually the first to complain about (what I would call) silly stuff here but I have to agree with H/onkko about it's a foreign country and things are done differently and if you wanna live here you just gotta accept it...

But fu'ck me...don't get me talking about people driving up your arse...Personal space in finland? Not when friggin' driving.

[Pursuivant]

But fu'ck me...don't get me talking about people driving up your arse...Personal space in finland? Not when friggin' driving.

Try Italy or France and then you get a new meaning of "in the ass"

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Or San Francis.....forget it.

[Mook]

For those who defend this rule and blame others to be idiots that cannot manage to follow the basic rules...

I tried my best to create the exact scheme that I encounter almost everyday.

Car Nr.1 is mine and I'm driving with 30 km/h. I slow down and even stop before the pedestrian crossing. I check there is no sign for me and no triangle for the right side. The corner of the building is limiting my vision, but there is no car as far as I can see. So I proceed slowly. Then while I am on the pedestrian crossing I see the Car Nr.2 is approaching from right. I have to wait and give way to that driver. Then comes the third car, then the fourth, fifth... I wait in the middle of the pedestrian crossing, ashamed of blocking the people.

My conclusion is:
a) There is something wrong with the right has the right of way rule here, or
b) There is no need to be ashamed of blocking the pedestrian crossing or junction itself...

Why do you have to block the crossing? Unless you're driving a bus there's usually plenty of space for you to sit after the crossing and still let the other car passed.