Hazardous situations continue to arise in road tunnels due to vehicles driving in the wrong direction, reversing and stopping. A recent survey by Fintraffic examined various traffic disruptions in five busy tunnels in Finland. What are the main factors for safe driving in tunnels, and how can every driver contribute to a safe flow of traffic through tunnels?
One of the biggest traffic risks in road tunnels is driving in the wrong direction. In 2025, Fintraffic examined traffic behaviour in five busy tunnels – the Vuosaari tunnel in Helsinki, the Mestari and Keilaniemi tunnels in Espoo, the Rantatunneli tunnel in Tampere, and the Liipola tunnel in Lahti. Vehicles were observed driving in the wrong direction, reversing and stopping in tunnels.
“Tunnel traffic flowed safely last year, and timely intervention was made in the event of disruptions. Ten cases of vehicles driving in the wrong direction in tunnels and more than twenty cases of reversing in tunnels were reported. In addition, approximately 870 stopped vehicles were recorded. Although driving in the wrong direction and reversing are rare, the number of stopped vehicles shows that there are disruptions are fairly common in tunnels, so motorists need to be vigilant,” says Kari Tarkki, Head of Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre.
Details of vehicles reported driving in the wrong direction, reversing and stopping in tunnels:
- Vuosaari tunnel (main road 103, Helsinki): seven vehicles driving in the wrong direction and one vehicle reversing were observed last year. A total of 172 vehicles were observed to have stopped in the tunnel, averaging around three per week.
- Mestari tunnel (Ring I, Espoo): five reversing vehicles were observed last year. A total of 152 vehicles were observed to have stopped in the tunnel, averaging around three per week.
- Keilaniemi tunnel (Ring I, Espoo): 15 reversing vehicles were observed last year. A total of 121 vehicles were observed to have stopped in the tunnel, averaging around two per week.
- Rantatunneli tunnel (main road 12, Tampere): two vehicles driving in the wrong direction and two vehicles reversing were observed last year. A total of 362 vehicles were observed to have stopped in the tunnel, averaging around one per day.
- Liipola tunnel (main road 12, Lahti): one vehicle driving in the wrong direction and one vehicle reversing were observed last year. A total of 62 vehicles were observed to have stopped in the tunnel, averaging around one per week.
Learn the proper etiquette – tunnels are different from other parts of the road
Safety is a key consideration in every aspect of a road tunnel, from design to continuous traffic monitoring. Thanks to this, tunnel accidents are relatively rare.
“In a tunnel, even minor errors can escalate quickly, as it is a closed environment. In an emergency, it is not possible to pull over onto the hard shoulder, as the only thing there is a concrete wall. For this reason, it is particularly important to stay well back from the vehicle ahead to maintain safety and to observe the speed limit. Stopping in a tunnel is not permitted unless there is an urgent and compelling reason for it. Similarly, reversing and making U-turns are strictly forbidden,” says Kari Tarkki.
Here are the most important things that all drivers should remember:
- Be vigilant even before entering the tunnel. Always follow the speed limit and observe the information and lane signs. For example, if there is a lane sign with a red cross at the tunnel portal, it means that the lane in question is not in use.
- Do not stop. You must not stop, reverse or make a U-turn in a tunnel.
- Keep a safe distance. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front gives you time to react. Make sure you also keep a safe distance in heavy traffic. Rear-end collisions often occur when traffic builds up in the overtaking lane due to a large number of vehicles or a traffic disruption ahead.
- Only overtake if the conditions are clearly suitable for it. Overtaking is only permitted in tunnels with several lanes in the same direction. Even then, you should carefully consider the manoeuvre before overtaking.
- If your vehicle breaks down and you cannot continue: Turn on the hazard lights, move your vehicle into an emergency area, or at least to the edge of the lane. Turn off the engine, exit the vehicle, and follow the signs to the connecting tunnel. Use your phone or the emergency phone in the tunnel to call for help, and wait in the connecting tunnel until help arrives.
Road Traffic Centre monitors traffic in tunnels 24/7, prioritising safety
Safety is extremely important in tunnels, as they are different from the rest of the traffic environment and form a distinct, safety-critical section of the road network. For this reason, safety is a special consideration for the design and equipment used in tunnels. Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre also ensures a rapid response to disruptions and accidents.
Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre monitors traffic in tunnels around the clock. Its operations are supported by comprehensive technical systems, such as electronic information and lane signs, speed limit signs, public address systems, traffic cameras and booms. When incidents arise, Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre has various means to guide motorists, such as reducing the speed limits, using signs and signals to provide information on lanes and emergency routes, or closing tunnels entirely.
Fintraffic operates all the road tunnels in Finland. Tunnels are closely monitored 24/7 by Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre. Tunnel safety is based on close cooperation, from the design of the tunnel to its construction and operation. The national tunnel authorities and regional rescue and police authorities work in close cooperation to ensure the operations.
