Sivutaulut

Sivutaulut are supplementary plates used with Finnish traffic signs to provide additional information that cannot be conveyed by the main sign alone. They are part of the road signage system and help specify conditions, limits, or exceptions related to the primary rule.

These plates are typically mounted directly beneath or beside the main sign on the same support structure. They are smaller and use standardized formats, text, and wording. Common content includes time limits (for example, hours of operation), days or dates when a rule applies, distance-related reminders (such as “200 m ahead”), and vehicle-specific exceptions or permissions. By combining a main sign with a sivutaulu, authorities can tailor traffic rules to specific situations without creating a proliferation of standalone signs.

In official terms, the plates are referred to as lisäkilvet (supplementary plates). Sivutaulut as a term is widely understood in everyday language, but the regulatory and design framework follows national standards set by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) and aligns with broader EU signage conventions. The legal effect of a sivutaulu depends on its relationship to the accompanying main sign; when paired, the information on the sivutaulu modifies or clarifies the main sign’s meaning.

See also: road signs, lisäkilpi, traffic regulations.