Updated 2003  

Two real-time parking guidance systems are installed in Helsinki. The older one, established in 1991, comprises the City Center. The other one, installed in 1998, is located in Pasila including Helsinki Fair Center and maybe in the future even Helsinki Arena (Hartwall Arena).

Drivers to the car parks are guided with real-time variable message signs. The system informs drivers of the free parking spaces in each car park. Totally there are 56 parking signs with 80 variable messages.

The parking guidance system selected for Helsinki is based on the guidance with directional arrows with names to the few nearest car parks. The other far away car parks are guided only with arrows.

Message display format used in Helsinki is unique: information on the free SPACES are shown with a white figure "P". If the car park is FULL or it is CLOSED, the red back flash is drawn over the figure P. This information option simplify the system because then the  message to the driver is just the same: "do not enter here".

The display text information commonly used in the Europe is not possible in Helsinki due the Finnish legislation for bilinguistic cities: all official traffic information must be available both in Finnish and Swedish.

The control system is totally automatic. Only some minor manual operations are needed for special events when open hours of the car parks should be changed. This can be done from the Helsinki Urban Traffic Control Centre (HelUTC), where the main control equipment is located.