Road safety
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is responsible for
drafting legislation concerning road safety.
Efforts will be made to reduce the number of head-on collisions on main roads with median barriers, develop driver training and improve road safety of children, young adults and the elderly. One aim is also to expand the network of cycle routes.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications cooperates with other ministries to combat drunken driving and develop traffic control.
Improvements to road safety are made in accordance with a Government resolution from 2006. The Government Transport Policy Report (2008) confirms targets and key measures for improving road safety. The long-term aim is that in 2025, the number of road accident fatalities is less than 250.
Road safety work makes use of information and communications technology in in-vehicle applications, electronic traffic management, and road condition information, for example.
Administrative sector
The key players in the field of road safety within the
Ministry's administrative sector are the Finnish Transport Agency,
The Finnish Transport Safety Agency and the Central Organisation
for Traffic Safety in Finland, Liikenneturva.
Liikenneturva campaigns for road and traffic safety, disseminates
information, provides further training for drivers, and contributes
to road safety education.
The Finnish Transport Safety Agency’s responsibilities include
vehicle registration, supervision of driving schools and driving
licence operations, and organisation of matters related to vehicle
inspection.
The Transport Agency is responsible for road design, construction
and management, and for road and traffic signs.