Winter speed limits come into force

Once again seasonal speed limits are being put in place on Finnish roads. The so-called winter speed limits necessitated by the wintry and dark conditions have come into force in stages during the month of October. Main roads in the north of the country saw the reduction of the speed limits already in mid-month, while the last changes to top speeds in the south and southwest of Finland took place on Tuesday.
      For the winter, the motorway speed limit will be reduced from the customary 120 km/h to 100 km/h. Other main roads, where the summer speed limit is 100 km/h, will see it being reduced in places to 80 km/h.
     
The 70 km/h speed limits introduced in 2004 will stay put. Some of these have become permanent all-year-round limits.
      The less common speed limit is in use on narrow main roads through reasonably densely populated areas burdened by substantial heavy goods traffic. It was introduced in 2004 in the wake of the Konginkangas bus disaster, in which more than 20 people were killed when a truck and a long-distance coach collided in icy conditions.
     
Compared with last winter, the seasonal speed limits remain more or less the same. In Northern Finland the seasonal speed limit has been raised on certain roads. In the north of the country there are certain stretches of country roads with two-way traffic, where the 100 km/h speed limit is being kept in force. This is because of the long distances and because the traffic on the roads is not dense.
      In Western Finland, on the other hand, the 100km/h speed limits have been removed from some roads.
     
In all, just under 2,000 kilometres of Finnish roads will keep the 100km/h speed limit through the winter months.
      The majority of Finnish motorists are happy with the lower winter limits, which were first introduced in 1987. According to the latest road user survey, 88 per cent of drivers accept the need for winter speed limits.
      "Of course there are always those who are not pleased. Especially in good weather conditions the seasonal limits may cause grief. A majority of the drivers, however, recognise their usefulness", says road engineer Juhani Mänttäri from the Finnish Road Administration.
      The winter speed limits have been shown to improve road safety and reduce the number of serious accidents in particular.
     
The seasonal speed limits also have a favourable effect on emissions. When driving slower, the fuel consumption drops, as do the exhaust emissions.
      Depending on the weather, the winter speed limits will remain in force until March-April.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Winter speed limits to be tightened (30.8.2004)
  Study: Tighter winter speed limits for trucks could save 5-10 lives a year (30.11.2004)

Links:
  Finnish Road Administration