Police to monitor young people's use of intoxicants and their behaviour in traffic

The police will monitor young people's use of intoxicants and their behaviour in traffic. Traffic controls will focus on moped riders, cyclists and drivers of light electric vehicles. Police patrols will also be visible in school areas.

The police will conduct enhanced surveillance in urban areas in weeks 20–22. The police will monitor pedestrian crossings and how unprotected road users, such as electric scooter riders and cyclists, comply with traffic rules.

The police will also monitor their safety and how drivers comply with the pedestrian crossing rules. As regards cyclists and drivers of light electric vehicles, the police will pay attention to whether they ride on pedestrian paths, follow the rules of the road and obey traffic lights.

“On the monitoring date, we will also take action against stopping and parking that disrupts and endangers unprotected road users, for example, near pedestrian crossings, on bicycle paths and in bicycle lanes," says Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio from the National Police Board.

In 2024, a record number of children and young people died in road traffic accidents (nine under the age of 15 and 36 between the ages of 15 and 24). 

Unprotected road users account for a large proportion of total road traffic fatalities

“In 2024, unprotected road users accounted for 34.5 per cent of road traffic fatalities in Finland. These figures include motorised two-wheeled vehicles. For this reason, the safety of these road users must remain at the heart of road safety work,” Kallio emphasises.

According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, three pedestrians died in road traffic accidents in January–March 2025.

Police to focus on visible surveillance at school closing times

Police departments will carry out enhanced street and substance abuse surveillance on 30 May and 1 June 2025, which is during the last week of the school term. Monitoring will focus on people under the age of 18. Particular attention will be paid to the possession of intoxicants, electronic cigarettes, narcotics and bladed weapons.
Young people often gather to celebrate the end of the school year, and these gatherings involve the use of intoxicants and the associated side effects. The aim of visible police surveillance is to prevent disorder, accidents and young people becoming victims of crime.

Police will intervene in possession of intoxicants and bladed weapons

Most of the police surveillance will be visible, and police will intervene in the use and possession of all intoxicants. The police have observed an unfortunately high incidence of young people carrying bladed weapons or other objects that can be used to harm others. Intervening in the possession of bladed weapons is a key enforcement issue, alongside the possession of drugs and alcohol.

During the monitoring period, local police units will work closely with youth and social services, among others. Cooperation between authorities ensures effective intervention and an immediate response to any problems that may arise in relation to young people. 

It is important for parents to know where their children are spending their weekends, with whom, and what they are doing. Parents should check their children’s backpacks and bags before they go out. This helps to avoid nasty surprises that often arise when the authorities are forced to intervene.
Local police officers will provide information about their surveillance activities in various ways during and after the surveillance. 

The purpose of enhanced monitoring is to prevent the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants.