Traffic safety strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area 2005-2010

The first Traffic Safety Strategy Plan for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area for the years 2005-2010 was completed in the year 2001. The plan defined the goals, focus and action plan for the traffic safety work in the region. The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) decided to start the revision of the strategy plan in the autumn of 2004. The revision of the traffic safety strategy is focused on the years 2005-2010. The current situation of both traffic safety and traffic safety work in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area have been examined and the implementation of the previous strategy plan monitored. Despite the decreasing number of accidents, the goals for traffic safety in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area have not been reached. On average 25 people die in traffic annually, while the goal for 2005 was at most 15 fatalities. Main traffic safety problems include high driving speeds as well as problems in traffic behaviour and culture, driving and walking on red light. Deficiencies in the pedestrian and bicycle network also constitute a significant problem. The goal of the strategy plan for 2005-2010 is that there will be at most 15 fatalities in the traffic of the region in the year 2010. The action plan and focus of measures (driving speed management, traffic behaviour, improving traffic environment, demand management and choice of mode, the appreciation of traffic safety issues) have been prepared to achieve this goal. The revision of the strategy included analysing traffic safety work in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The basic work conducted in the region is of good quality and productive but not sufficient, if the demanding goals are to be achieved. The commitment of decision-making organizations to the traffic safety strategy has been inadequate which, in its part, has led to lack of resources in relation to the demands of measures. The commitment of other parties than those primarily engaged in traffic safety work should be paid special attention to in the future. This report may be found at http://www.ytv.fi/NR/rdonlyres/FC2E1401-7B30-43E0-903F-DD41D370AE1B/0/ltustrategia_B2005_16.pdf