The police breathalysed more than 100,000 drivers in July

The police intensified the surveillance of the use of intoxicants in road and water traffic and the drivers’ driving health during July (30 June to 27 July) throughout Finland. The goal was to reduce the increased occurrence of deaths in traffic as a result of substance abuse in the month of July, a phenomenon that had been witnessed in previous years.

During the surveillance campaign, the police carried out 100,326 breathalyser tests, 3,700 of which were carried out in water traffic. Despite there were over 6,000 more breathalyser tests now than last year, 35 fewer persons suspected of traffic intoxication offences, in other words 1,556 persons, were caught during the surveillance campaign this year than in 2024. The police collected saliva samples from 1,490 drivers, of whom 432 tested positive for drugs. During the campaign the police also imposed a traffic penalty fee on 268 riders of light electric vehicles for riding while intoxicated.

“The results showed a slight increase in the proportion of those who had used drugs and a mix of substances and a small increase in drunkenness in waterborne traffic. The amendment to the act that entered into force in June and prohibited the riding of a light electric vehicle while intoxicated was also visible in the results. The police have had to intervene in this perhaps more often than expected,” says Chief Superintendent Tuomo Katajisto of the National Police Board.

“According to preliminary information, it is unfortunate that 13 people died in road traffic in July, but at this stage, the involvement of intoxicants is suspected in only one case, which means that last year’s positive trend in terms of substance abuse deaths has continued,” Tuomo Katajisto says.

The police wish to point out that intoxication and driving a vehicle, no matter what the size of the vehicle is, do not go together. In addition to speeding, intoxication is a major risk factor leading to serious accidents.