In the nationwide traffic surveillance operation last week, police intervention was required in a total of 715 cases of persons neglecting the use of seat belts or safety devices in traffic. Of these, 15 were children, whose use of safety devices is the responsibility of the child’s guardian, or if such a person is not present, the driver’s.
“However, it seems that since last year, the use of children’s safety devices has developed positively,” says Chief Superintendent Tuomo Katajisto of the National Police Board.
He points out that the aim of the traffic penalty fees issued for neglecting the use of seat belts is to achieve comprehensive use of seat belts. It would save up to 20 lives in traffic accidents and mitigate injuries or prevent many more from being injured at all.
During the special operation, 433 drivers were detected using a mobile phone while driving, and the problem was addressed.
“It was delightful to see that the unlawful use of a handheld mobile phone seems to have decreased somewhat from the previous year.”
Katajisto warns particularly against typing messages and other such activity that requires looking away from the road for several seconds. Such inattention poses a real threat of danger to road users, including the drivers themselves.
