The police are conduct enhanced surveillance in urban areas from May 12 to May 30 to monitor young people's use of intoxicants and their behaviour in traffic, said police in a press release.
The police will monitor pedestrian crossings and how unprotected road users, such as electric scooter riders and cyclists, comply with traffic rules.
The traffic controls will focus on moped riders, cyclists and drivers of light electric vehicles. Police patrols will also be visible in school areas.
The police will also monitor their safety and how drivers comply with the pedestrian crossing rules.
As regards cyclists and drivers of light electric vehicles, the police will pay attention to whether they ride on pedestrian paths, follow the rules of the road and obey traffic lights.
“On the monitoring date, we will also take action against stopping and parking that disrupts and endangers unprotected road users, for example, near pedestrian crossings, on bicycle paths and in bicycle lanes," said Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board Heikki Kallio.
In 2024, a record number of children and young people died in road traffic accidents (nine under the age of 15 and 36 between the ages of 15 and 24).
“In 2024, unprotected road users accounted for 34.5 per cent of road traffic fatalities in Finland. These figures include motorised two-wheeled vehicles. For this reason, the safety of these road users must remain at the heart of road safety work,” Kallio said.
According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, three pedestrians died in road traffic accidents in January–March 2025.
Police departments will carry out enhanced street and substance abuse surveillance on 30 May and 1 June 2025, which is during the last week of the school term.
Monitoring will focus on people under the age of 18. Particular attention will be paid to the possession of intoxicants, electronic cigarettes, narcotics and bladed weapons.
Young people often gather to celebrate the end of the school year, and these gatherings involve the use of intoxicants and the associated side effects. The aim of visible police surveillance is to prevent disorder, accidents and young people becoming victims of crime.
Most of the police surveillance will be visible, and police will intervene in the use and possession of all intoxicants. The police have observed an unfortunately high incidence of young people carrying bladed weapons or other objects that can be used to harm others. Intervening in the possession of bladed weapons is a key enforcement issue, alongside the possession of drugs and alcohol.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
