Easter outbound traffic is about to start. Fintraffic, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the police, Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services, the Emergency Response Centre Agency and the Finnish Road Safety Council highlight the importance of anticipation to ensure the safety of traffic at Easter: Remember to check the weather conditions and leave some leeway when driving, rest well before departing and go over what you should do in the event of an accident. We wish you a safe Easter on the road!
Easter traffic forecasts: traffic busiest on Maundy Thursday
The busiest days for traffic over Easter are, as always, forecast to be Maundy Thursday (6 April) and Easter Monday (10 April).
- Outbound traffic is expected to be at its busiest from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday. There will also be plenty of traffic between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Good Friday, and even later in the north. There may be occasional congestion on roads leading out of the capital region as well as on Main Roads 4 and 5 all the way up to Jyväskylä and Mikkeli.
- Inbound traffic volume will begin to increase on Sunday afternoon and evening (9 April), with the peak time falling between noon and 8 p.m. on Monday 10 April. Motorists should prepare for congestion, especially on roads in Southern Finland.
“At Easter, you should remember that will be much more traffic than, for example, during the winter holidays, which take place over several weeks. It is a good idea to be prepared for occasional congestion, especially during the busiest hours,” says Kari Tarkki, Fintraffic’s Head of Road Traffic Management Centre.
Get behind the wheel only when rested—your holiday starts as soon as you depart
Safe traffic during Easter requires cooperation. Anticipation plays a key role in smooth and problem-free traffic: A well-maintained car, a driver focused only on driving and, first and foremost, a flexible driving style that takes into account others and the road conditions and weather go a very long way.
“Don’t start your journey unless you have received enough rest and reserve sufficient time for the drive to ensure that you are patient with other people on the road and refrain from unnecessary, dangerous overtaking. Check that there is enough windscreen washer fluid in the tank, the tyre pressures are in order and that the tyres fit the road conditions. Having a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you gives you leeway if, for example, that vehicle suddenly brakes because an animal has run onto the road,” says Heikki Kallio, the National Police Board’s Chief Superintendent.
The Finnish Road Safety Council would also like to emphasise the importance of driver alertness. Signs of tiredness should be taken seriously in Easter traffic and you should only get behind the wheel if you feel alert.
“Tiredness is not typically taken seriously enough. Surveys conducted by the Finnish Road Safety Council indicate that nearly one sixth of the respondents have almost fallen asleep at the wheel. If you feel tired on the road, you should take a break. If you need to continue your journey, have a cup of coffee and take a fifteen-minute nap. The best way to prevent tiredness is to get enough sleep before driving. You will feel more alert if there is enough time for breaks in your schedule,” says Planner Mia Nyholm from the Finnish Road Safety Council.
Don’t let the springtime fool you: Check your tyres
Traficom wants to highlight the importance of selecting the right type of tyres this Easter and packing the car correctly.
“Many people travel long distances by car during Easter. In Finland, it’s possible that the spring conditions are totally fine at the place of departure, but winter is in full force at the destination. Select the right type of tyres according to the conditions so that the spring and its rapidly changing conditions don’t get the better of you. If you need to take a lot of stuff with you, you should take some time to pack the car appropriately. As a general rule, the safest place for your belongings in the car is the boot and the heaviest items should be packed first at the bottom,” says the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom’s Senior Expert Inkeri Parkkari.
You can check the latest weather information and warnings at ilmatieteenlaitos.fi. For traffic congestion updates, traffic announcements and other real-time traffic information, please check Fintraffic’s Traffic Situation service, which can also be used on a mobile device.
Go over what you should do at the site of an accident – your actions can save lives
Road users’ obligations include helping others in the event of an accidents and contacting the emergency services. It is a good idea to now and then go over what you should do in the event of an accident so that you will know what to do in a real emergency.
“If you notice a traffic accident, stop in a safe place and turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights. Move along the edge of the road to the site of the accident and seek to prevent additional damage by turning off the car’s engine and warning other traffic. Also keep your own safety in mind and, if it’s dark, make yourself more visible by, for example, wearing a high-visibility vest. Set up the warning triangle at a sufficient distance from the site of the accident, contact the emergency services and help the injured as much as you can. If professional help has already arrived at the site of the accident, focus on passing the site safely, lower your speed sufficiently and do not film or take pictures of the site,” says Tommi Luhtaniemi, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services.
The Emergency Response Centre Agency would like to remind everyone of the importance of stopping at accident sites. If the emergency call is made at the site of the accident, the Emergency Response Centre will know the exact location of and information about the situation. This makes it possible to alert the most suitable form of help and to provide life-saving instructions.
Holidaymakers should also download the 112 Suomi mobile app to their phones in case of an emergency or a problem. With the app, you can contact the Road User’s phone line, where you can report acute problems on highways that cause traffic hazards (for example, major surface damage, flooding, road collapses, slippery roads, snow-filled roads or traffic blockages caused by broken-down vehicles).
“You can also get announcements about road traffic disruptions and potential emergency warnings through the 112 Suomi app according to your location,” says Tommi Hopearuoho, Planning Manager at the Emergency Response Centre Agency.
