Open-road sections

There are hundreds of changing electronic speed limit signs and information signs on main roads. Have you ever wondered from where these signs are controlled and how they affect road safety?

Changing speed limit signs are controlled from Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre

During the autumn and winter periods, darkness, wet road surfaces, elks and slippery winter roads increase the risk of traffic accidents. In spring and summer, on the other hand, the challenges are related to such phenomena as night frosts, heavy local rainfall and fog. Different accident situations, and maintenance and repair works are also issues that often require reduced speed limits.

The risk of accidents and the severity of the consequences of accidents can be reduced by means of changing speed limits. This means lowering the speeds on high-volume road sections according to the prevailing traffic situation and road conditions. Sometimes speeds are lowered proactively even before traffic congestion occurs. In this case, the cause of the lowered speed limit may not be visible on the road, but the limits must still be complied with.

The open-road section technology of Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Management can already be found on the roads covering a distance of 1,400 kilometres. On these sections, the safety and smooth running of traffic is ensured with the combined action of more than 3,000 different devices even today.

Did you know? Since the autumn of 2023, Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Management has also been using Waze application data in information signs to streamline traffic. In Finland, data provided by Waze was first seen in the information signs on Ring Road III. There, it can be used to provide motorists with more detailed driving time and congestion information.