Helsinki, Finland (population: ~650,000) has not had a single car cash related death in over a year! That is impressive! They believe a combination of lower speed limits, improved pedestrian / cycling infrastructure, public transit improvement, and traffic camera all contributed.
While Americans love cars (this writer included!), the fact that roughly 40,000 Americans die each year from motor vehicle fatalities (not to mention ~2.6 million emergency department visits related to motor vehicle crashes in 2022 and $470 billion in medical costs) should push us to question if we can do better by learning from the experiences of other places.
I don’t relish driving even slower in a city, but it’s hard to deny the alternative is even grimmer.
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.
Street design has also played a key role. Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has been significantly upgraded in recent years. In addition, cooperation with traffic police has intensified and more traffic cameras and automated enforcement systems have been introduced.
“Public transport in Helsinki is excellent, which reduces car use, and with it, the number of serious accidents,” Utriainen noted.
Vehicle technology has also improved, making both cars and other personal transport options safer than ever.
