Liikennemerkkeinä

Liikennemerkkeinä refers to the system of road signs used to regulate traffic on Finnish roads and in many other countries. The signs communicate rules, warnings, and information to drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users. The design follows international standards, notably the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and is implemented in Finland through the Road Traffic Act and Traficom's regulations on traffic signs. Signs are organized into categories: warning signs signal hazards ahead; prohibition signs restrict or ban actions; mandatory signs require a specific behavior; priority signs indicate which user has the right of way; information and service signs provide practical information about routes, destinations, or facilities. Supplementary plates may specify conditions such as time limits, distances, or exceptions.

Sign shapes and colors help universal understanding: warnings commonly use triangular shapes with red borders; prohibitions are usually circular with red rims; mandatory signs are circular with blue backgrounds; priority signs include a distinctive shape (often a diamond or other national variant); information signs are rectangular or square with blue or green backgrounds. Pictograms are used to be recognizable across languages, with text used only when necessary.

In practice, liikennemerkkeinä guide behavior at crossroads, near schools, construction zones, and along highways, and they are maintained by national authorities to ensure visibility and reliability in all weather conditions. The system evolves with new signs reflecting changes in traffic law and road usage.