Helsinki has not recorded a single traffic fatality in the past 12 months, city and police officials confirmed this week.
The city’s most recent fatal accident occurred in early July 2024 on Keinulaudantie in the city’s Kontula district.
Authorities are calling the situation exceptional.
“A lot of factors contributed to this, but speed limits are one of the most important,” said Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer with the city’s Urban Environment Division.
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According to Utriainen, more than half of Helsinki’s streets now have a speed limit of 30 km/h. Fifty years ago, that proportion featured 50 km/h limits.
Earlier this summer, Helsinki decided to lower speed limits near schools to 30 km/h, a measure that is set to take effect as the academic year begins.
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People ignore speed limits. You design the street to feel best at the speed you want people to go.
One of the States, I think Maine? Took a road and adjusted the posted speed limit at various points spanning like 20 mph differences, and at all posted speeds the average actual traffic speed was still the same. Because that speed felt right for that road to most drivers, regardless of what was legal.
If there are good alternative options for public transport, then the slower speed limits and roads designed to slow traffic will gradually shift people to use those options instead.
One huge difference is in how Finland calculate fines. They scale with your income.