Consultation process: Changes to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is seeking comments on a Government draft on approving amendments to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals until 27 January 2026.

The Convention on Road Signs and Signals is intended to facilitate road traffic and boost traffic safety with unified road signs and symbols and road markings. The Convention has been signed by 35 states and ratified by 75 states. The United National Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)’s Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) maintains the Convention.

Unified international rules aim to reduce traffic accidents on the roads of the signatory states. Road traffic automation also requires unification of international traffic signs.

The Government draft proposes that Parliament approves the amendments to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, approved at the UNECE Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety’s 90th session, the supplementing European Agreement, and its protocol on road markings. The draft proposal also includes legislative proposals that implement the provisions of the convention that fall within the scope of legislation.

The amendments to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals are mainly technical, or have to do with what road signs look like or making the convention more legible. The purpose of the amendments is to reduce ambiguity and provide for further unification of road signs and signals. Furthermore, the amendments aim to update the appearance of traffic signs to make them as clear, unified and easy to understand as possible in international traffic.

Due to the scope of the amendments, the new text of the convention fully replaces the current text. The amendments to the European Agreement and the protocol on road markings are minor.

No significant impact in Finland

The proposed amendments mainly correspond to existing regulations in Finland. The required amendments to the Road Traffic Act that result from the enactment of the Convention are minor, having to do with road sign appearance or definition. According to the Convention, signs must be replaced within 15 years of enactment. The amendments to the Convention do not have a significant economic impact in Finland.

During the preparatory process, some individual provisions have been identified that require either changes in national regulation or a reservation thereto. Some of Finland’s existing reservations must be cancelled, as they will no longer be necessary.

The amendments proposed in the Government draft are minor additions and specifications to the regulations on traffic signs. The proposed amendments include changes to appearance of traffic signs A27 and M3.

What’s next?

Comments on the draft government proposal may be submitted at lausuntopalvelu.fi until 27 January 2026. The feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as the work on the acts continues at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shared the amendments with the signatory states on 12 May 2025. The signatory states have 12 months to notify the Secretary-General if they approve or reject the amendments. Finland must report its approval and possible reservations in the spring of 2026.

Inquiries:

Juuso Suomento, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 071, [email protected]

Sofia Johansson, Senior Specialist, tel. 0295 342090, [email protected]