Road Traffic Act

[umit]

Is it possible to find Finland Road Traffic Act in English? I already checked http://www.finlex.fi but couldn't find it. There is "Decree on the Use of Vehicles on the Road" but that is not I'm looking for...

Actually, I want to check if some hearsay rules, which are annoying me, are true or not. Most annoying rule is "the driver coming from the right has the priority, unless otherwise forced by traffic signs". I'm sure this rule is the same in most of the countries, but for example this rule doesn't apply at main road & secondary road intersections, unlike here.

When I approach a crossroad I slow down and then check if there is a "yield" sign for the right hand side. Why in the hell I should check a traffic sign which is meant for someone else? Of course I can't see the front side of the sign but it is happen to be the only traffic sign with triangular shape and one corner pointing the ground. If there is no such sign, I have to be cautious about any car coming from that direction and give way to them. Most of the time you cannot see the coming cars in advance and when you recognize a car coming you are already on the pedestrian crossing or even further in the crossroad area. If there is a queue of cars coming from the right you have to stay in that awkward position for a while and feel the angry eyes of crossing pedestrians or drivers on the left hand side whose way is blocked by me.

My logic tells me if I am already in the crossroad area then driver coming from the right must wait his/her turn, if we arrive the crossroad at the same time the priority is his/hers. But, here in Finland I'm afraid to pass in that situation because some drivers coming from right do not even slow down (when they are turning right) where a collision would be inevitable if you try to pass.

So maybe there is an interpretation problem with this rule and it became the practice. If so, I will feel more relaxed upon any gesture when I block the passage of others or didn't give way to those coming from right

Once I was driving on a highway in Greece. It was a 4-lane road (2 lanes for each direction) and I was traveling on the right lane with the maximum speed allowed. Then I realized some drivers behind were trying to say something by turning on and off the high beams and making angry gestures while taking over me. It took me for a while to figure it out that I was supposed to shift to the security lane (actually it is not right to call it a lane because they are irregular in the width and normally not meant for driving. They are just extra asphalt space between the lanes and the terrain) on the right-most and let the fast drivers pass more comfortably. I don't think this "rule" can be found in Greek Traffic Code, but it is a practice there.

[Pursuivant]

14 §
Väistämisvelvollisuus

Risteystä lähestyessään kuljettajan on noudatettava erityistä varovaisuutta. Hänen on väistettävä samanaikaisesti muuta tietä oikealta lähestyvää ajoneuvoa.

Risteyksessä kääntyvän ajoneuvon kuljettajan on väistettävä risteävää tietä ylittävää polkupyöräilijää, mopoilijaa ja jalankulkijaa. Samoin on kuljettajan, joka muualla kuin risteyksessä, aikoo poistua ajoradalta tai muuten ylittää sen, väistettävä tien reunaa käyttävää polkupyöräilijää, mopoilijaa ja jalankulkijaa. Vasemmalle kääntyvän kuljettajan on lisäksi väistettävä vastaan tulevaa liikennettä.

Kuljettajan on kuitenkin aina väistettävä muuta liikennettä, jos hän on tulossa tielle pihakadulta, kävelykadulta, pihasta, pysäköintipaikalta, huoltoasemalta tai muulta vastaavalta alueelta taikka polulta, tilustieltä tai muulta vähäiseltä tieltä tai moottorikelkkailureitiltä. (5.5.2006/343)

Polkupyöräilijän tai mopoilijan on kuitenkin, jollei 2 tai 3 momentista muuta johdu, tullessaan pyörätieltä ajoradalle väistettävä muuta liikennettä. (7.5.1997/414)

Raitiovaunulle on tienkäyttäjän risteyksessä, 1 ja 2 momentin säännöksistä huolimatta, annettava esteetön kulku.

[umit]

Thanks Pursuivant but google is not very successful at translating legal texts So, who is right? Am I or you Finns?

[Pursuivant]

Well it says you yield at those coming from the right. Except if they come from a yard, forest path, parking lot, gas station etc. and "lesser road".
A "lesser road" is marked with a triangle. So when two main roads meet, theres no triangle, so you yield to the one coming from the right... which is what you are expected of doing.

Due to affirmative road action quite a lot of the roads are "main". Compare with USA - theres 4-way stop signs. In Finland we are not rich to put up signs so theres 4-way main roads intersection. End result is the same.

[Rick1]

I had a whole story but then this wunderfull selfsensuring forum broke down. Umit you are right it is not easy to see here, they should put some 'teeth' on the road and more plates on the side of the road to see you have way. Same should be for max.speed plates, it is not always clear.

[Pursuivant]

What they should use is more of the "main road" signs but they're only sporadic at the beginning of a turnpike or such. As for confusing "max speed" plates Estonia gets the prize. Theres the "village starts" and "village ends" zones, and was it now roads were 70 unless it was marked 90... or... ummm... yeah. And all the locals drive about 20 over...

[Rip]

As a somebody who hasn't driven for years I hate to give driving instructions to anybody else. As for your first question, apparently the Road Traffic Act has not been translated. To most comprehensive guide of Finnish driving regulations that I know is here: http://www.liikenneturva.fi/en/liitetie ... inland.pdf

[umit]

Compare with USA - theres 4-way stop signs. In Finland we are not rich to put up signs so theres 4-way main roads intersection. End result is the same.

Yeah, I think the best solution for this is US 4-way stop signs. "First come, first pass". However, the end result is not the same! In Finland if you are on the left, you have to wait for the 100 cars coming from the right

@Rip: Thanks for the link, it was more or less what I was looking for.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Interesting - it confused the hell out of me too!

It's kinda hard to get used to. Or do what I do....close your eyes and pray to allah...krishna, god...or whatever god I worship that week.

cheers!

[riku2]

check if there is a "yield" sign for the right hand side. Why in the hell I should check a traffic sign which is meant for someone else?

They have the same rule in Holland (and most of mainland europe) but there you would also see the yellow/white diamond sign with a black line through it, to remind you that you have to give way to the right. I'm not sure i've seen this sign in finland ever and even the yellow/white diamond is quite rare.

it seems the roads in finland are designed (although i'm not sure they put much thought into road design) so that you should drive the same route a few dozen times and learn how all the junctions and lane layouts work, then you'll know. Until then just slow down for EVERY road that comes from the right and be ready to stop - that will minimize the possible impact although annoy the drivers behind you who know the road!

For added effect the give way to the right rule doesn't apply if the road is a private road/driveway/road to a shop for example. But how are you suppose to know since the private roads can be quite big? look for a road name sign - so now you're looking for two pieces of street furniture at each junction! wouldn't looking ahead for pedestrians be better ?

on moving to the breakdown lane to let cars overtake in greece - it's the same thing in south africa: even if you're doing the speed limit they expect you to move over and drive there - where you can have a go at running over pedestrians or hitting roadside rubbish in the breakdown lane!

[Tiwaz]

You just do not watch carefully I think.

Off the top of my head, which relies on my gut feeling since I have never counted, it is quite common for notable intersections to have the "yellow" diamond. But they are right AFTER the intersection. After that it is presumed that you know you have right of way until you either leave the road or find sign which countermands that right.

In city centers you are not supposed to drive so fast you do not have time to check if you see triangle for others.

Same thing with speed limits. You find sign right after intersection to tell everyone who has turned to that road what the limit is.

[umit]

In city centers you are not supposed to drive so fast you do not have time to check if you see triangle for others.

Tiwaz drive on the Puistokatu towards Ruoholahti, then you will see what I'm trying to tell...

And whether you drive slow or up to limit you HAVE TO check the triangle for others. Otherwise both of you will wait there for a while, and then press on the gas at the same time to have a head to head impact!!

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???

[Mook]

In city centers you are not supposed to drive so fast you do not have time to check if you see triangle for others.

Tiwaz drive on the Puistokatu towards Ruoholahti, then you will see what I'm trying to tell...

And whether you drive slow or up to limit you HAVE TO check the triangle for others. Otherwise both of you will wait there for a while, and then press on the gas at the same time to have a head to head impact!!

er,
- the speed limit is 30 km/h there (and there's lots of parked cars, so it's quite hard to go fast)
- there are no triangles
- the car to your right has right-of-way (so you don't "push your gas", you wait for them to go)

[umit]

@Mook: I'm doing exactly the same, no doubt about that. But, what annoys me is waiting on the pedestrian crossing or inside the crossroad... I think if the drivers coming from the right would have to bring their cars to a full stop before continuing further into the crossroad (like the practice in the USA), I would see them easily there and stop safely before the pedestrian crossing. Or if I am already in the crossroad and see a car is approaching from right, it gives me enough time to pass safely.

[DMC]

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???

The fact that you have signalled your intention does not override the fact that other traffic has right of way. The traffic already on the road does not have to give way to parked vehicles. I don't know any country where that would be the case. Do you?

You give the signal to let other people know what you want/intend to do. The signal is for their benefit as much as yours. The pedestrian about to cross the road might be interested to know that the road won't actually be clear after the next car, because you will be pulling out. The driver coming the other way and planning to overtake, or go around some obstacle, also needs to know that. The driver looking for a parking space might want to know that yours will soon be vacant. The roads are safer and using them is easier if people know in advance what other road users are going to do. Signalling what you intend to do doesn't give you an automatic right to do it.

I do agree with you about the "look for non-existence of signs on another road" system being more difficult than signs on the road to which they apply, but you just have to get used to it, or at least accept it and be extra cautious.