The police conducted an intensive control operation on heavy traffic throughout Finland from Monday to Sunday, 15 to 21 October 2018.
A total of 250 breaches of compliance with driving and rest times were detected, which is 67 cases more than in a corresponding campaign in 2017 (+ 27%). In addition, 74 violations were detected relating to tachographs, such as the device not being used at all, or misused.
The number of penalties relating to vehicle condition and securing of loads remained on par with 2017, with 101 penalties recorded for the poor condition of the vehicle. In 14 cases, the vehicle was not allowed to continue on the road due to severe deficiencies. Fines were issued to a total of 50 drivers for insufficient securing of loads (2017: 48).
All in all, the number of penalties increased from the corresponding period in 2017, with 399 violations recorded now, and 338 last year.
Surveillance focused on previously detected issues
The aim of the operation was to improve road safety and combat crime associated with the shadow economy and transport crime.
“With regard to traffic safety, the focus was particularly on the most prominent issues detected during the previous surveillance campaigns, including compliance with driving and rest times. Other focus areas were securing of loads and vehicle condition,” says Chief Superintendent Kari Onninen of the National Police Board.
In all, 1,718 heavy vehicles, 1,366 of which were of domestic and 335 of foreign origin, and 16 were buses, were inspected during the operation.
All police departments in Finland participated in the nationwide intensive surveillance campaign. The intensive surveillance operation was part of the Europe-wide enforcement theme of the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).
Surveillance of heavy vehicle traffic has been one of the focus areas of the police in traffic safety work in 2018, with a total of 4,601 heavy vehicles of domestic and 1,065 of foreign origin being inspected during the four thematic intensive surveillance operations arranged over the year.
