Drivers with a leaden right foot have better than average chances of winning Finland's other national lottery this week and collecting a speeding fine commensurate with their income, as April 20th-26th sees the police's annual spring campaign to keep people within limits and remind them that speed kills.
Running into a radar trap this week is very possible all over the country, and indeed all over Europe, because in several other countries besides Finland the local law enforcement agencies will be out in force on the roads.
Later in the summer the results from different countries will be tabled and compared by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network.
"The roads are drying out, winter speed restriction have been lifted. It is a common phenomenon that in the spring drivers get overenthusiastic and we see a peak in speeding cases", states Inspector Timo Ajaste from the Ministry of the Interior, in justifying the timing of the clampdown.
It is worth remembering that in this country fines for speeding over and above the fixed sum (rikesakko) for petty infractions are based on the "day-fine" system, and are income-linked.
Hence those in the higher income groups may find themselves facing a sizeable bill in addition to possible loss of their licence.
