Road tunnels are one of the most safety-critical sections of the road network, where even a small disruption can quickly lead to serious incidents. Last year, pedestrians, cyclists, electric scooter users or moped users were encountered a total of 50 times in the Vuosaari tunnel, the Mestarintunneli tunnel, the Keilaniemi tunnel, the Rantatunneli tunnel, the Hämeenlinna tunnel, the Patomäki tunnel and the Hiidenkallio tunnel. Road tunnels are not intended for these people and forms of transport.
Although motorways and road tunnels are strictly restricted to use by motor vehicles, traffic that is not permitted in tunnels is still encountered there The summer season in particular attracts cyclists, electric scooter users, and moped users into tunnels.
“Last year, pedestrian and bicycle traffic caused dozens of additional tunnel alarms at Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre. Although tunnels may look like normal road environments from the outside, it is worth remembering that forms of transport other than motor vehicles are forbidden from entering them. Road traffic speeds and the enclosed environment mean that even small errors in judgement can quickly lead to serious incidents. For this reason, it is particularly important to remind young people that they are not permitted in road tunnels on foot, scooters, bikes, or even mopeds,” reminds Mika Jaatinen, Head of Unit at Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre.
The Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre closely monitors road tunnel traffic 24/7, which is how the Road Traffic Centre is immediately made aware of anything unusual occurring in tunnels. Fintraffic's Road Traffic Centre also reports possible pedestrians and other traffic that does not belong in road tunnels to the Emergency Response Centre. Violation of the traffic regulations in the tunnel area will also result in a traffic penalty fee.
Tunnel cameras revealed dozens of cases of forbidden entry into tunnels
Pedestrians, cyclists, electric scooter users, and moped users are still observed annually in road tunnels. A total of 49 observations were made in seven road tunnels during last year.
- Six persons on mopeds, six pedestrians and five cyclists were observed in the Vuosaari tunnel (Road 103, Helsinki).
- Seven pedestrians, two persons on electric scooters, two cyclists and two persons on mopeds were observed in the Mestarintunneli tunnel (Ring Road I, Espoo).
- Two persons on mopeds and one cyclist were observed in the Keilaniemi tunnel (Ring Road I, Espoo).
- Three pedestrians, two persons on mopeds and one cyclist were observed in the Rantatunneli tunnel (Main road 12, Tampere).
- Four persons on electric scooters and one pedestrian were observed in the Hämeenlinna tunnel (Main road 3, Hämeenlinna).
- Four pedestrians were observed in the Patomäki tunnel (Main road 12, Lahti).
- One pedestrian was observed in the Hiidenkallio tunnel (Ring Road II, Espoo).
