Traffic discipline very slack in Helsinki

Calls for extension of "zero tolerance" approach to streets of the capital

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In September, seventeen traffic accidents took place in the Helsinki traffic every day. This translates to an increase by nearly a fifth compared with a year ago. No fewer than 76 people sustained injuries in these accidents during the month.
      From the beginning of this year, 4,100 reported traffic accidents have occurred in the Finnish capital. This exceeds last year’s figure for the same period by about 400, and does not include tiny fender-benders and parking lot scrapes that do not come to the attention of the authorities.
     
The increase in the number of accidents is not that alarming, but according to the Helsinki police the number of minor traffic violations is definitely heading sharply upwards.
      "The authorities have become aware that careless lane changes are on the rise and people neglect the use of their indicators more and more", explains Chief Inspector Heikki Seppä from the Traffic Safety Unit of the Helsinki Police.
      Traffic counsellor Matti Roine of the Ministry of Transport and Communications says that the present development is country-wide. Speed violations are a commonplace, and the figures for drunken driving incidents and accidents by young drivers are both on the rise.
     
Traffic light and speed violations, as well as the general attitude climate in traffic, are constantly being monitored, but according to Roine such studies fail to discern quick changes. One trend pinpointed by such studies, however, holds true even today, Roine acknowledges.
      Whenever there is an economical upswing, the number of traffic violation increases. For example, in 1989, at the height of the late 80s economic boom, almost 6,500 traffic accidents took place in Helsinki. The corresponding figure for the slump-year of 1993 was a mere 4,200.
      "Hard, selfish values raise their ugly head, and people no longer take others into consideration. Self-seeking attitudes are reflected in driving behaviour as well", Roine warns.
     
Campaigns are not enough to restore traffic discipline, Roine says. The informing of the public has to be sustained, and it has to be backed up by practical measures.
      As a good example, Roine mentions the zero tolerance measures enforced against speeding on Highway 51, which were widely communicated to the public.
      Researcher Eero Pasanen from the Traffic Planning Division of the City of Helsinki Planning Department is of the opinion that committing a traffic violation should lead to a punishment more often. This would have an effect, for example, on people's willingness to speed and/or run a red light.
      According to Pasanen’s estimate, people in the capital run red lights ten million times a year and yet only 8,000 of these cases lead to a fine. Slight speeding, on the other hand, is so common that in the public mind it is not considered an offence of any kind any more.
     
At present the Helsinki Police do not impose fines for mild speeding violations. According to Seppä, however, the objective is to extend the zero tolerance principle from the Länsiväylä artery (Highwayt 51) to cover the entire city.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Zero tolerance campaign against speeding on Highway 51 proves effective (20.9.2007)
  Speed cameras to monitor average speeds between two checkpoints (12.10.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat