Police figures for July: breathalyser tests increased and drunk driving decreased compared to last year

The police monitored drunk driving and boating under the influence throughout the country from 1 to 28 July 2024. 94,000 breathalyser tests for alcohol were conducted during the surveillance period and 1,228 saliva tests for other intoxicating substances.

During the surveillance a total of 882 people suspected of drunk driving or boating under the influence were caught, of whom 442 people of some other intoxicating substance.

Approximately 34,000 fewer breathalyser tests were conducted during the same surveillance last year, and yet more suspected drink-drivers were caught throughout July (last year 1,545, this year 1,509). This year over a hundred more saliva tests were conducted to detect the use of some other intoxicating substance than last year. The proportion of positive test results of the saliva tests this year was 32%, compared with 40% last year, i.e. a smaller proportion of the saliva tests, too, was positive. 

Chief Superintendent Tuomo Katajisto from the National Police Board of Finland considers that even though the trend is right, there are still far too many intoxicated drivers in traffic. According to Katajisto, another positive aspect is that the number of people died or injured in drunken or intoxicated driving accidents has decreased. A total of 74 people died or were injured in drunken or intoxicated driving accidents in July 2022, compared with 55 in July 2023 and 41 in July 2024. Katajisto concludes that of course the aim is zero accidents.