Finland is headed for a record-low number of road fatalities this year, according to an estimate by the Finnish Road Safety Council.
Using preliminary data from Statistics Finland and news reports, the agency found that there were a total of 171 road fatalities as of a few days before the end of 2023.
In 2022, there were 196 traffic-related deaths and the year before 225 people died on Finnish roads.
Traffic related fatalities have been considerably higher in the past. For example in 2015, a total of 270 people died in traffic accidents and more than 1,000 lives were claimed annually in the early 1970s.
Despite the steady decrease, Finland is aiming to halve the number of vehicular-related fatalities by the year 2030, bringing the annual figure to less than 100 deaths, according to Road Safety Council research chief Marja Pakarinen.
"We're still far from that target, so we're not celebrating yet," Pakarinen said in a press release.
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The most significant decrease in fatalities was among people in passenger cars, according to the estimate. Meanwhile, deaths of pedestrians and those involving vehicles other than passenger cars were roughly at the same level as in 2022.
In terms of age groups, the biggest improvement compared to last year was among young adults. In 2022 a total of 21 people aged between 21-24 died on Finnish roads. This year the figure stands at eight.
Another bright piece of news, according to the council, is that no one under the age of 15 had died in a motor vehicle this year.
The Road Safety Council's Managing Director, Pasi Anteroinen, told Yle that many factors led to the improvement.
"Vehicles are safer, the traffic environment is safer, drivers are safer and road safety work helps to reduce mortality," he said.
However, one group did not see a year-on-year improvement in traffic related deaths, those aged 15 to 19.
Anteroinen said he hopes Finland will update laws that could help with reducing fatalities among that age group. As examples, he said changes could be made to legislation concerning driver licences, age exception permits and the use of ATVs.
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