Authorities confirmed that Helsinki, the capital of Finland, has completed 12 months without recording any deaths in traffic accidents.
The last fatal accident recorded in the city occurred in early July 2024. “Many factors contributed to this, but speed limits are among the most important,” said Roni Utriainen, traffic engineer at the city’s Urban Environment Division, to the Finnish site YLE.
According to Utriainen, more than half of Helsinki’s streets have a speed limit of 30 km/h. Fifty years ago, this proportion was 50 km/h.
The infrastructure, which has been modernized for both pedestrians and cyclists, increased enforcement, and improvements in public transport systems also played an important role, according to Utriainen.
It is worth noting that vehicle technology has also improved, making cars safer than ever. Utriainen also emphasized that traffic education has been improved for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
The data aligns with the European Union’s long-term plan to achieve zero traffic deaths by 2050, called Vision Zero. But is it really possible?
“For us, the most important thing is how the goal guides our daily actions. Our aim is to evaluate all our decisions based on their long-term impact,” Utriainen added.
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