News

Increased number of fatalities in road traffic signals that strong efforts are needed both short and long term. In 2018, 324 people died in road traffic, 72 more than the year before. For 2018, the number of seriously injured is estimated at just over 4,200. This is a decrease from 2017 by approximately 300 people.

Increased number of fatalities in head-on and overtaking accidents and in collsions with trucks
The most noticeable in the analysis of 2018 statistics is the large increase in head-on accidents, with 68 per cent more fatalities than in 2017. About half of the increase was head-on collisions between passenger cars and heavy trucks. 78 people died in accidents involving heavy trucks. This is an increase of 129 percent compared to 2017. In 9 out of 10 cases, the passenger car drifted over in the oncoming lanes. Most of the fatalities in a collision with a heavy truck died on roads without meeting separation at a speed unit limit of 70 and 90 km/h.

Many actions in progress - the fastest effect is to adjust the speeds of the roads
Traffic safety is an interaction between infrastructure measures, vehicle crash safety and users. The right speed on roads and streets is a prerequisite for reducing the number of killed and injured in traffic.

A long-term measure for increased road safety is to build meeting-separated roads that prevent frontal collisions. But we also need to implement measures that have a faster effect on road safety, for example continued establishment of road safety cameras and adjustments of speed limits based on the road safety standard.

Examples of effective actions:
• Roads with meeting separation
• adaptation of speed limits
• more road safety cameras
• more intersecting measures and safe passages for unprotected road users
• Improved cycle path maintenance
• geofencing technology for safe zones
• more sobriety checks in ports.