Give way to oncoming trafficFinland
Traffic rules
Finland
1. Give way to oncoming traffic
Give way to oncoming traffic means that drivers must allow vehicles approaching from the opposite direction to pass first through a narrow section of road. The rule is normally indicated by a sign facing the direction that must yield and a corresponding priority sign facing oncoming traffic.
Drivers must reduce speed and stop when necessary before entering the narrow passage. They may continue only when they can do so safely and without obstructing oncoming traffic that has priority.
When must I give way to oncoming traffic in Finland?
Where priority signs, temporary signals or an authorised controller in Finland require your direction to yield at a narrow road or bridge, allow opposing traffic through first. Do not assume every narrowing has the same priority arrangement.
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex, Finnish Road Traffic Act 729/2018 — 5, 25, 30; Annex 3 B3–B4
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex — corresponding current Finnish statutory text
Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers.
English • Traffic sign B4 • Give way to oncoming traffic. Where necessary, oncoming vehicles and trams must be allowed to pass the indicated section first.
Suomi • Liikennemerkki B4 • Väistämisvelvollisuus kohdattaessa. Merkillä osoitetaan, että vastakkaisesta suunnasta tulevalle ajoneuvolle ja raitiovaunulle on tarvittaessa annettava mahdollisuus ensiksi sivuuttaa merkillä osoitettu tienkohta.
Svenska • Vägmärke B4 • Väjningsplikt vid möte. Märket anger att fordon och spårvagnar som kommer från motsatt håll vid behov ska ges tillfälle att först passera det med märket angivna stället på vägen.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Finlex.fi • Tieliikennelaki 729/2018 • liite 3.2 (FI)
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Finlex.fi • Vägtrafiklag 729/2018 • bilaga 3.2 (SV)
SVG source: Republic of Finland • Public domain • Original revision 2020-05-31. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Does a road-narrows warning automatically give oncoming traffic priority in Finland?
Not necessarily. A warning of a narrow carriageway is not itself the same as an instruction to give way. Check whether there is a separate priority sign, signal or temporary traffic control, and take account of any rules for an obstruction on your side.
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex, Finnish Road Traffic Act 729/2018 — 5, 25, 30; Annex 3 B3–B4
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex — corresponding current Finnish statutory text
What if an oncoming vehicle is already entering a narrow passage in Finland?
Reduce speed and wait where you can do so safely rather than forcing two vehicles into insufficient space. Even if a sign gives your approach priority, that does not justify a collision or endangering another road user.
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex, Finnish Road Traffic Act 729/2018 — 5, 25, 30; Annex 3 B3–B4
🔗 finlex.fi • Finlex — corresponding current Finnish statutory text
