Finnish Road Administration prepares further tightening of speed limits

Increased traffic and deteriorating roads cause for concern

print this

The Finnish Road Administration (FINNRA) is prepared to lower speed limits permanently on an additional 1,200 to 2,400 kilometres of roads in Finland by the year 2009. Director General Eero Karjaluoto of FINNRA reported the planned changes to the traffic arm of the Parliamentary select committee on finance at a meeting held in the Central Finland municipality of Tervo on Friday.
      "Once implemented, these changes will seriously inconvenience the transport industry and other road users", Karjaluoto predicted.
     
According to Karjaluoto, the lowering of speed limits is a direct consequence of the poor condition of Finnish roads which in turn has led to lowered traffic safety.
      On the stretches singled out, the present speed limits would be lowered by 20 km/h, from 100 km/h to 80 km/h or from 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
      If materialised these changes would add to the length of 1,200 km of roads, where speed limits were already lowered at the beginning of the year after to an earlier revision.
      "With our present level of funding, we are unable to start improving the condition of the main roads", Karjaluoto emphasised.
     
On the main roads, head-on collisions have become the greatest safety hazard. Of all road accidents, 60 percent are serious, and half of these serious accidents involve head-on collisions.
      Karjaluoto argues that Finnish roads are too narrow and dangerous for safe overtaking. More stretches with overtaking lanes and more motorway sections are needed.
     
The Ministry of Finance budget proposal for the coming year promises increased misery. So far, only EUR 578 million has been allocated to road maintenance, whereas previous political agreements have called for EUR 630 million. According to the Road Administration's own calculations, a minimum of EUR 710 million would be needed.
      In Tervo, the select committee's traffic arm also heard opinions from other high-level representatives from the traffic sector. Their message was just as bleak as Karjaluoto's.
      For example, Director-General Ossi Niemimuukko of the Finnish Rail Administration said the latest budget figures for the rail network are short of EUR 20 million. Niemimuukko estimated the deficit would increase to EUR 50-70 million in the coming years.
      "The present course will lead to a gradual shutting-down of the rail network", Niemimuukko warns.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Winter speed limits about to be removed (5.4.2005)
  Road Administration: Too much slushy snow on Loimaa road at time of fatal crash (8.2.2005)
  Winter speed limits to be tightened (30.8.2004)
  Poor condition of railway tracks slows down trains in Jyväskylä area (6.4.2005)

Links:
  FINNRA
  Finnish Rail Administration

Helsingin Sanomat