Police to control mopeds and light vehicles at the weekend

In the upcoming weekend from 19 to 21 May 2023, the Police will control the use and condition of mopeds and other two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles throughout Finland. Control will focus on the state of the driver, driving licence category and on compliance with the rules of the road.

“The traffic safety of young people is one of the priorities of traffic safety work by the police and during the control campaign at the weekend we aim to impact the safety of vehicles and modes of mobility used by young people,” Chief Superintendent Tuomo Katajisto says.

For the size of their age group, young people are over-represented in road accidents and injuries. Collisions involving mopeds result in some fatalities and around 300 injuries each year. When motorised quadricycle and motorcycle collisions are included, the number of injuries begins to approach one thousand each year. 

“The control campaign also aims to intervene in disturbing driving and vehicle noise in residential areas in the evening hours,” Katajisto adds. 

According to Katajisto, a similar control campaign last year inspected more than 1,000 vehicles, caught 11 drink drivers and found 66 drivers who were not in possession of the right category of driving licence for the vehicle they were operating. Almost 300 vehicles were found to be in a condition breaching the regulations.

Katajisto also advises the parents of young people to regular check the condition of the vehicle operated by their offspring to ensure operator safety. Ineffective brakes, non-functioning lights, loud engine noise, high revs and hiding the registration number are signs that the vehicle is unlawful and even dangerous.