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31/2019

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STATUTE BOOK OF FINLAND

Mnrovvvvajoneuvojen käytöstä tiellä annetun asetuksen muuttamisestauu asia Published in Helsinki 17 January 2019

31/2019

Government Decree

amending the Decree on the use of vehicles on the road

The Government’s decision hereby

repeals § 21, subsection 2 of the Decree on the use of vehicles on the road (1257/1992), as enacted in Decree 47/2017

amends §§ 2, 13, 17, 19 a, 19 b, 20, 23, 23 a, 24, 26, 27, 32, 33, 36, 45, 51 b and 52 of the decree,

as § 2 is in Decrees 407/2013 and 570/2017, § 13 is in Decree 1243/2002, § 17 is partially in Decrees 303/1996, 1227/2011 and 407/2013, §§ 19 a, 27, 32 and § 52 are in Decree 407/2013, § 19 b is in Decree 1243/2002, § 20 is in Decrees 407/2013 and 123/2017, § 23 is in Decree 47/2017, § 23 a is in Decree 1062/2013, § 24 is in Decrees 407/2013, 240/2017 and 206/2018, § 26 is in Decree 1227/2011, § 33 is in Decree 487/2009, § 36 is partially in Decree 531/1993, § 45 is in Decree 1612/2015 and § 51 b in Decree 570/2017,

replaces § 22, repealed by Decree 670/1997, with a new § 22 and adds a new subsection 2 to § 32 a, as it is in Decree 407/2013, as well as a new § 32 b to the decree, as follows:
By decision of the Government, §§ 2, 13, 17, 19 a, 19 b, 20, 21, 23, 23 a, 24, 26, 27, 32, 32 a, 33, 36, 45, 46, 51 b, 52 and 57 §, as § 2 is in Decrees 407/2013 and 570/2017, §§ 13, 19 a, 27, 32, 32 a and 52 are in Decree 407/2013, § 17 is partially in Decrees 303/1996, 1227/2011 and 407/2013, § 19 b is in Decree 1243/2002, § 20 is in Decrees 407/2013 and 123/2017, § 21 is in Decrees 407/2013, 47/2017 and 240/2017, § 23 is in Decree 47/2017, § 23 a is in Decree 1062/2013, § 24 is in Decrees 407/2013, 240/2017 and 206/2018, § 26 is in Decree 1227/2011, § 33 is in Decree 487/2009, § 36 is partially in Decree 531/1993, § 45 is in Decree 1612/2015, § 46 is in Decrees 670/1997, 407/2013 and 240/2017, § 51 b is in Decree 570/2017 and § 57 partially in Decrees

1453/1992 and 47/2017, of the Decree on the use of vehicles on the road (1257/1992) are amended, the § 22 repealed by Decree 670/1997 is replaced by a new § 22, and a new § 32 is inserted as follows:

§ 2


For the purposes of this decree:

1) connected mass shall refer to the permissible true mass of the towed vehicle while coupled, excluding the mass on the fifth wheel coupling or drawbar coupling of the towing vehicle of a semi-trailer, tractor trailer or centre-axle trailer;

2) indivisible load shall refer to a load that cannot, for the purpose of carriage by road, be divided into two or more loads without undue expense or risk of damage and which owing to its dimensions or mass cannot be carried by a vehicle or vehicle combination without exceeding the generally allowable limits for masses or dimensions on the road; indivisible load also means a container designed for carriage by sea that is exported or imported, either empty or loaded at the site of departure, and over 2.80 metres high or over 12.30 metres long; if the transport of the container referred to herein requires exceeding the height of 4.40 metres or, correspondingly, exceeding the length of 23.00 metres or the generally allowable limit for mass on the road in an articulated vehicle, the container is considered an indivisible item only when it is the package of an indivisible item or when the container is transported empty;

3) Ministry shall refer to the Ministry of Transport and Communications;

4) work equipment shall refer to a switchable machine that can be connected to a vehicle, that is completely off the ground during carriage by road, and that cannot rotate around its vertical axis in relation to the vehicle during carriage by road;

5) dimension and weight directive shall refer to Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the European Union the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic, as last amended by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council;

6) alternative fuels shall refer to the alternative fuels referred to in Article 2 of the dimension and weight directive;

7) steering axle shall refer to the axle whose wheels may be rotated directly or indirectly in relation to the vehicle’s longitudinal axle in order to determine the vehicle’s direction of motion;

8) steered axle shall refer to an axle for which the steering angle of the wheels only changes due to the interaction of forces between the wheels and the road surface; however, an axle whose steering angle changes slightly due to the elasticity of the axle coupling is not considered a steered axle.
connected mass shall refer to the permissible true mass of the towed vehicle while coupled, excluding the mass on the fifth wheel coupling or drawbar coupling of the towing vehicle of a semi-trailer, tractor trailer or centre-axle trailer;

indivisible load shall refer to a load that cannot, for the purpose of carriage by road, be divided into two or more loads without undue expense or risk of damage and which owing to its dimensions or mass cannot be carried by a vehicle or vehicle combination without exceeding the generally allowable limits for masses or dimensions on the road; indivisible load also means a container designed for carriage by sea that is exported or imported, either empty or loaded at the site of departure, and over 2.80 metres high or

over 12.30 metres long; if the transport of the container referred to herein requires exceeding the height of 4.40 metres or, correspondingly, exceeding the length of 23.00 metres or the generally allowable limit for mass on the road in an articulated vehicle, the container is considered an indivisible item only when it is the package of an indivisible item or when the container is transported empty;

Directive 96/53/EY of the Council; OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 59.

Ministry shall refer to the Ministry of Transport and Communications;

work equipment shall refer to a switchable machine that can be connected to a vehicle, that is completely off the ground during carriage by road, and that cannot rotate around its vertical axis in relation to the vehicle during carriage by road;

dimension and weight directive shall refer to Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic, as last amended by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council;

alternative fuels shall refer to the alternative fuels referred to in Article 2 of the dimension and weight directive;

steering axle: the axle whose wheels may be rotated directly or indirectly in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to determine the direction of the vehicle’s motion;

steered axle shall refer to an axle for which the steering angle of the wheels only changes due to the interaction of forces between the wheels and the road surface; however, an axle whose steering angle changes slightly due to the elasticity of the axle coupling is not considered a steered axle.

§ 13

Steered axle

If a vehicle or a trailer, for which no technical requirements for a control device have been provided or specified, has a steered axle fitted with a device that is actuated from the driver’s seat or an automatic device that directly locks steering, the axle must be kept locked when driving at a speed exceeding 40 km/h.
If a vehicle or a trailer, for which no technical requirements for a control device have been provided or specified, has a steered axle fitted with a device that is actuated from the driver’s seat or an automatic device that directly locks steering, the axle must be kept locked when driving at a speed exceeding 40 kilometres per hour.

If all the axles of a vehicle are steering axles, the travel position of the vehicle shall be parallel to the carriageway in normal traffic.


When a spare tyre must be used temporarily in a vehicle or towed vehicle coupled to it due to tyre failure, the provisions of this section shall not apply to it. The vehicle shall then be driven observing extra caution.

In the case of a used studded tyre of a passenger vehicle or a light lorry, the studs shall not project more than 2.0 mm. The studs of a used lorry tyre must not project more than 2.5 mm.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency may grant a single vehicle a derogation from the provision of subsection 1 on permitted period of the use of studded tyres.

If the total mass on the driving axle or driving axles is less than 18 % of the gross combination mass in a vehicle combination with a mass exceeding 44 tonnes or a length exceeding 18.75 metres, the towing vehicle must, during the period referred to in § 16, subsection 2, be fitted with a device that can improve the vehicle’s starting traction on slippery road surfaces. A structure affecting the functioning of the differential of a single driving axle is not considered such a device.

If the total mass on the driving axles of a vehicle combination whose length exceeds 28 metres is under 25 % of the mass of the vehicle combination, during the period referred to in § 16, subsection 2 and for the purposes of improving the starting capacity of a vehicle combination on a slippery road surface, the towing vehicle shall be equipped with sanders or automatic snow chains to improve the towing capacity of at least one driving axle or the axle used as the driving axle at low speed.

§ 19 a
In the case of a used studded tyre of a passenger vehicle or a light lorry, the studs shall not project more than 2.0 millimetres. The stud may protrude by no more than 2.5 millimetres in the tyres used for a lorry.

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency may grant a derogation to an individual vehicle from the permitted period of use of studded tyres laid down in subsection 1.

If the total mass on the driving axle or driving axles is less than 18 % of the gross combination mass in a vehicle combination with a mass exceeding 44 tonnes or a length exceeding 18.75 metres, the towing vehicle must, during the period laid down in § 16, subsection 2, be fitted with a device that can improve the vehicle’s starting traction on slippery road surfaces. A structure affecting the functioning of the differential of a single driving axle is not considered such a device.

If the total mass on the driving axles of a vehicle combination whose length exceeds 28 metres is under 25 % of the mass of the vehicle combination, during the period laid down in § 16, subsection 2 and for the purposes of improving the starting capacity of a vehicle combination on a slippery road surface, the towing vehicle shall be equipped with sanders or automatic snow chains to improve the towing capacity of at least one driving axle or the axle used as the driving axle at low speed.

§ 19 a

Maximum masses on axles or bogies of a vehicle or vehicle combination

When a vehicle or vehicle combination is driven on the road, the mass on the axle or bogie or the total mass of the vehicle may not exceed the value entered in the vehicle register. The total mass of the vehicle combination may not exceed the sum of the masses of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle entered in the register, or the total mass permitted for the combination if it is lower than the sum referred to above.

While driving on a slippery road surface, the mass on the axle or bogie of a vehicle when using an axle-lift device or an axle-lightening function may temporarily exceed the maximum axle or bogie mass allowed on the road if it is necessary in order to obtain sufficient traction grip and it does not damage the road.

The mass on the axle and bogie of a vehicle when using an axle-lift device or an axle-lightening function may temporarily exceed the maximum mass allowed on the road if it is necessary in order to attain sufficient manoeuvrability. The speed shall not exceed 30 km/h. The mass on the axle shall not exceed 12 tonnes. The combination is not required to fulfil the requirement on stability in § 32 b during an axle lift executed at a speed lower than 30 kilometres per hour.
When a vehicle or vehicle combination is driven on the road, the mass on the axle or bogie or the total mass of the vehicle may not exceed the value entered in the transport register. The total mass of the vehicle combination may not exceed the sum of the masses of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle entered in the transport register, or the total mass permitted for the combination if it is lower than the sum referred to above.

While driving on a slippery road surface, the mass on the axle or bogie of a vehicle when using an axle lift device or an axle-lightening function may temporarily exceed the maximum axle or bogie mass allowed on the road if it is necessary in order to obtain sufficient traction grip and it does not damage the road.

The mass on the axle and bogie of a vehicle when using an axle lift device or an axle-lightening function may temporarily exceed the maximum mass allowed on the road if it is necessary in order to attain sufficient manoeuvrability. At such a time, driving speed may not exceed 30 kilometres per hour and the mass on the axle may not exceed 12 tonnes. The provisions of § 32 b on required stability do not apply to a vehicle combination when an axle lift is performed while driving speed is less than 30 kilometres per hour.

§ 19 b

Use in Finland of a vehicle registered or put into circulation in an EEA State

When a vehicle registered or put into circulation in a Member State of the European Economic Area, hereinafter ‘EEA state’, is used in Finland, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

If the generally authorised masses of a vehicle put into circulation in 1993 or later exceed the maximum values provided in the dimension and weight directive:

1) at least one axle of a bogie with three or more axles shall be a steering axle; instead of a steering axle, a steered axle may be used that is locked in a position directly corresponding to the driving direction while at a speed of 30 kilometres per hour or more;

2) in the case of a towed vehicle, at least one of the bogie axles shall be a steered or steering axle, if the distance between the outermost axles of a bogie exceeds 2.4 metres in a two-axle bogie or 2.8 metres in a bogie with three or more axles;

3) the rearmost axle in a two-axle bogie of the full trailer shall only be a steered axle if the vehicle has been demonstrated to fulfil the technical requirements referred to in UN/ECE Regulation No 79;

4) a bogie semi-trailer coupled by means of a converter dolly shall have a minimum of two non-steered axles.
When a vehicle registered or put into circulation in a Member State of the European Economic Area, hereinafter EEA state, is used in Finland, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

If the generally permissible masses of a vehicle put into circulation in 1993 or later exceed the maximum values provided in the Masses and Dimensions Directive:

at least one axle of a bogie with three or more axles shall be a steering axle; instead of a steering axle, a steered axle may be used that is locked in a position directly corresponding to the driving direction while at a speed of 30 kilometres per hour or more;

in the case of a towed vehicle, at least one of the bogie axles shall be a steered or steering axle, if the distance between the outermost axles of a bogie exceeds

2.4 metres in a two-axle bogie or 2.8 metres in a bogie with three or more axles;

the rearmost axle in a two-axle bogie of the full trailer shall only be a steered axle if the vehicle has been demonstrated to fulfil the technical requirements referred to in UN/ECE Regulation No 79;

a bogie semi-trailer coupled by means of a converter dolly shall have a minimum of two non-steered axles.

The sum of the mass on the non-steered axles of a bogie with three or more axles in the vehicle referred to in subsection 2 above must be at least 1.6-fold compared to the mass on the steered axles. This requirement shall not apply to vehicles which have been demonstrated to comply with the technical requirements referred to in UNECE Regulation No 79.

The provisions laid down in subsections 2 and 3 above shall not apply to a vehicle with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 40 km/h.
The provisions laid down in subsections 2 and 3 above shall not apply to a vehicle with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 40 kilometres per hour.

§ 20


When a motor vehicle or a trailer is driven on the road, the mass on its axle must not exceed the following values:

1) non-driving axle 10 t 2) driving axle 11.5 t
1) non-driving axle 10 t 2) driving axle 11.5 t

When a motor vehicle is driven on the road, the mass on its bogie must not exceed the following values:

1) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is less than 1.0 metre 11 t 2) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.0 metre but less than 1.3 metres 16 t 3) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres 18 t 4) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and each driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and the mass on each axle does not exceed 9.5 tonnes 19 t 5) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and the driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and air suspension or a suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension 20 t 6) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and the driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and air suspension or a suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension or when both axles of the bogie are fitted with twin wheels and the mass on a single axle does not exceed 10.5 tonnes 24 t 7) tri-axle bogie when the axle spacing is less than 1.3 metres 21 t 8) tri-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres 24 t 9) tri-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres and at least two of the axles of the bogie are fitted with twin wheels 27 t
1) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is less than 1.0 metre 11.5 t 2) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.0 metre but less than 1.3 metres 16 t 3) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metre but less than 1.8 metres 18 t 4) tandem axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and each driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and the mass on each axle does not exceed 9.5 tonnes 19 t 5) tandem axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and the driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and air suspension or a suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension 20 t 6) tandem axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres and the driving axle is fitted with twin wheels and air suspension or a suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension or when both axles of the bogie are fitted with twin wheels and the mass on a single axle does not exceed 10.5 tonnes 21 t 7) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is less than 1.3 metres 21 t 8) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is at least 1.3 metres 24 t 9) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres and at least two of the axles of the bogie are fitted with twin wheels 27 t

When a trailer is transported on the road, the mass on the bogie shall not exceed the following values:

1) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is less than 1.0 metre 11 t 2) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.0 metre but less than 1.3 metres 16 t 3) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metres but less than 1.8 metres 18 t 4) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.8 metres 20 t 5) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is less than 1.3 metres 21 t 6) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres 24 t 7) at least four-axle bogie when the spacing of the outermost axles is not less than 2.6 metres 24 t 8) at least four-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres 27 t 9) at least four-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres and the spacing of the outermost axles is not less than 4.7 metres 30 t 10) at least five-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres and the spacing of the outermost axles is not less than 6.7 metres 36 t

The mass on the successive axles of a bogie with three or more axles may not exceed the maximum authorised mass for the corresponding number of axles specified in subsections 2 or 3. The mass on the axles of a bogie may not exceed the maximum authorised mass laid down in subsection 1.
1) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is less than 1.0 metre 11 t 2) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.0 metre but less than 1.3 metres 16 t 3) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.3 metre but less than 1.8 metres 18 t 4) tandem-axle bogie when the axle spacing is not less than 1.8 metres 20 t 5) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is less than 1.3 metres 21 t 6) tri-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres 24 t 7) at least four-axle bogie 24 t 8) at least four-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres 27 t 9) at least four-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres and the spacing of the outermost axles is not less than 4.7 metres 30 t 10) at least five-axle bogie when the spacing of successive axles is not less than 1.3 metres and the spacing of the outermost axles is not less than 6.7 metres 36 t

The mass on the successive axles of a bogie with three or more axles may not exceed the maximum authorised mass on a bogie with a corresponding number of axles under subsections 2 or 3. The mass on the axles of a bogie may not exceed the maximum authorised mass on an axle laid down in subsection 1.

§ 21

Vehicle mass

When on the road, a vehicle’s mass may not exceed the following values:

1) a tandem-axle vehicle other than a bus or coach 18 t 2) a tri-axle vehicle 25 t 3) a tri-axle vehicle, if its drive axle has twin wheels and is equipped with air suspension or suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension, or if each drive rear axle has twin wheels and the mass on each axle does not exceed 10.5 tonnes 26 t 4) a tri-axle vehicle with two axles that have twin wheels or with one rear axle that is steering or steered and fitted with tyres with a nominal width of at least 385 millimetres, and the steering axle has twin wheels and is equipped with air suspension or suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension 28 t 5) a three-axle articulated bus 28 t 6) a four-axle vehicle 31 t 7) a four-axle vehicle, if its drive axle has twin wheels and is equipped with air suspension or suspension recognised as equivalent to air suspension, or if each drive rear axle has twin wheels and the mass on each axle does not exceed 10.5 tonnes 35 t 8) a five-axle vehicle 42 t 9) a tandem-axle bus or coach 19.5 t

However, a vehicle’s mass may not exceed the mass obtained by adding the following to 20 tonnes for every 0.10 metres that the distance between the vehicles’ outermost axles exceeds 1.80 metres:

1) 320 kilograms, if the vehicle has four axles,

2) 350 kilograms, if the vehicle has five axles,

At least 20 % of the vehicle's mass must be carried by the steering axle(s). For a passenger vehicle loaded to its registration/in service permissible mass and with the full permissible mass carried by the rear axle, at least 30 % of the vehicle's gross mass must be carried by the front axle.

At least 25 % of the mass of category M2, M3 and N vehicles must be carried by the drive axle(s).

The mass of a vehicle using alternative fuels may exceed the maximum authorised amount laid down in subsection 1, points 1 to 8, to the extent that the manufacturer demonstrates the increase in mass to be due to the additional weight required for the alternative fuel. The additional weight may not exceed one tonne.

§ 22

Mass of a trailer

The mass of the full trailer may not exceed the value obtained by adding to 20 tonnes 350 kg for every 0.10 metres that the distance between the outermost axles of the trailer exceeds 1.80 metres.
The mass of the full trailer may not exceed the value obtained by adding to 20 tonnes 350 kilograms for every 0.10 metres that the distance between the outermost axles of the trailer exceeds 1.80 metres.

§ 23


combination comprising a motor vehicle and centre-axle trailer 50 t