Last week and the week before when schools re-opened after the summer break, the Police carried out traffic controls in the vicinity of schools, particularly at the start and end of the school day. During the 3,300 working hours of control, a lot of speeding, driving without wearing a seatbelt and using hand-held communication devices while driving motorised vehicles was detected.
Attention was paid to vehicle speeds, especially 9-15 August, when a pan-European speed control campaign was also held. In addition, compliance with pedestrian crossing rules and traffic signals, the use of safety devices and factors causing inattentiveness in traffic were monitored.
A lot of speeding during the control period
The Police again caught many people speeding, some of whom were speeding in the vicinity of schools. During the two-week control period, the Police issued a total of 1,345 traffic penalty fees and 509 fines for speeding, and 90 drivers were temporarily disqualified from driving, the majority for driving well over the speed limit.
“Temporary disqualification from driving was imposed on about the same number of vehicle drivers as last year. This shows that disregard for speed limits is unfortunately still a problem,” said Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio at the National Police Board.
Fourteen drivers overtook a vehicle that had stopped at a pedestrian crossing and 35 drivers failed to give unhindered passage to persons attempting to step onto the crossing or who were already on it. In addition, 54 drivers were caught driving through a red light or failing to stop at a STOP sign. A total of 44 traffic penalty fees were issued to vulnerable road users, 6 to pedestrians, 20 for cycling on the pavement and 18 for operating a light e-vehicle on the pavement.
Wearing a seatbelt saves lives
There were 144 drivers or passengers caught not wearing a seatbelt and 169 drivers were detected using a hand-held communication device while driving a motorised vehicle.
“Wearing a seatbelt prevents serious injuries and saves lives in collisions. Seatbelts must always be worn at all times when driving, also on short trips and in the back seat, even in built-up areas,” Kallio points out.
Kallio reminds us that as driving conditions become more difficult with the arrival of autumn and darkness, pedestrians should wear reflectors in the dark and cyclists should have a white or yellow light in front and a red light at the rear when cycling on the road when it is dark or gloomy. All vehicle drivers should focus their attention solely on driving and other road traffic, and not fumble around with cell phones when driving.
