The busiest day for Easter traffic, Maundy Thursday (2 April), is approaching and thousands of people in Finland are preparing to set off for the holidays. Fintraffic, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the police, the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services, the Emergency Response Centre Agency and the Finnish Road Safety Council wish you a peaceful and safe journey on the road. Check the Easter road traffic forecasts now and read the current tips for Easter traffic to ensure that you will have a safe and smooth journey.
Easter road traffic forecasts: busiest traffic on Maundy Thursday
As usual, the busiest traffic days of Easter are expected to be Maundy Thursday (2 April) and Easter Monday (6 April).
According to the forecasts issued by Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Management Centre, the busiest time for outbound traffic will be on Maundy Thursday between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Traffic will also be heavy on Good Friday, 3 April, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and even later in the day in the north. There will be intermittent queues, especially on the exit roads from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and on main roads 4, 5 and 9 up to Jyväskylä and Mikkeli.
Return traffic will already start to increase during the afternoon and evening of Sunday 5 April, with a peak in return traffic on Monday 6 April between 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. So, be prepared for queues on the roads, especially in Southern Finland. You can check the current traffic situation in Fintraffic App.
“The long holidays of Easter draw people to cottage landscapes or northern fells. The number of cars will gradually increase on main roads already on Wednesday, but the busiest day is expected to be Maundy Thursday. Compared to winter holidays, there are more drivers on the move, as people are heading out at the same time unlike with winter holidays that are spread over different weeks,” says Tuuli Salonen, Duty Manager at Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Management.
Rested and attentive drivers are the key to safe Easter traffic
Even at Easter, safe traffic is a team sport. For the busy traffic on Maundy Thursday, the police advise people to drive well rested and with a flexible driving style that is considerate of others.
“You should only start your journey when you are well rested and have the right attitude. Reserve plenty of time so that you do not need to overtake anyone unnecessarily and dangerously in traffic. Remember to also keep a sufficient safety distance from those driving in front of you, as it gives you space in case of sudden braking situations. Also check that your vehicle is in good condition and that the tyres are suitable for the weather,” says Heikki Kallio, Superintendent at the National Police Board.
The Finnish Road Safety Council also emphasises that when you are behind the wheel, you should only focus on driving. The risk of an accident is doubled if the driver is on the phone or reaches for it while driving. The navigation system or some other display in the vehicle also distracts the driver from traffic.
“Things happen at a fast pace in traffic, especially when there are a lot of people on the roads. A driver focusing on the vehicle’s display does not fit in this equation. Set up the navigator before you start your journey, keep your phone away while driving or ask the passengers for help so that you can only focus on traffic,” continues Petri Jääskeläinen, Planner at the Finnish Road Safety Council.
Pack your car correctly
During Easter, when our cars are often full of luggage, correct packing becomes an essential part of road safety. When you have placed everything carefully, your luggage will not hit the passengers even if you have to break suddenly.
“When you break suddenly, even small objects have a high mass force. It is a good idea to keep a net or grid between the luggage compartment and the car seats whenever possible. You should not place heavy items in the passenger compartment. You should fit most of your luggage in the trunk and so that the heaviest ones are placed at the bottom, against the back seats,” says Inkeri Parkkari, Chief Adviser at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
If you have four-legged travel companions, make sure that your pet is properly secured and cannot move freely in the passenger compartment. You should fasten your pet to the seat belts in the passenger compartment with a seat belt harness or, if the pet is travelling in a pet carrier, the carrier should be attached to the vehicle’s structures.
Remember to also check the roof box and its mounting and weight limits before packing and taking off.
Recap the instructions on how to take action at scenes of accident – your actions could save lives
The responsibilities of road users include helping others in the event of an accident and alerting for help. From time to time, it is a good idea to recap the instructions on how to act in the event of an accident, so that in the face of a real situation, we know how to do act in the correct way.
First at the scene of the accident – this is what you should do:
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights and stop in a safe spot. Then move along the shoulder of the road to the site of the accident. Help prevent further accidents by turning off the vehicle involved in the accident and by warning other traffic. In all situations, don’t forget to consider passing vehicles.
“Call 112 for help immediately, and assist the injured persons to the best of your ability. Remember to place the warning triangle at a long enough distance from the accident site. Don’t forget your own safety, always wear a reflector vest on the road if you have one. In the event of an accident, act calmly and resolutely until the authorities arrive,” instructs Tommi Luhtaniemi, Senior Inspector at the Ministry of the Interior’s Department for Rescue Services.
The Emergency Response Centre Agency also wants to remind you that in the event of an emergency, you should call 112 from the scene of the accident, so that the Emergency Response Centre can assess the severity, urgency and location. Drivers should also download and familiarise themselves with the services of the 112 Suomi application well in advance.
“Road users should download the free 112 Suomi mobile app of the Emergency Response Centre Agency in case of any emergencies and problems. You can use the app to call the emergency number or the Road User Line, in which case your location information will be transmitted in connection with the call. You will also receive road traffic disruption alerts and possible hazard alerts according to your location through the app,” says Katri Kalliomäki, Communications Specialist at the Emergency Response Centre Agency.
