Helsinki Did It: Not a Single Traffic-Related Death in One Year

With a population of 700,000, the Finnish capital Helsinki has been striving for the past five years to replicate its 2019 achievement of zero pedestrian or cyclist deaths in traffic.

Once a car-centric city, Helsinki now follows urban development strategies driven by data-based, long-term transportation policies.

According to Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer at the city’s Urban Environment Division, this success is due to multiple factors — and speed limits are among the most crucial.

When the impact speed of a vehicle drops from 40 km/h to 30 km/h, the risk of fatality for pedestrians is cut in half. In 2021, Helsinki introduced lower speed limits in most residential areas and the city center.

Many roads across the city were intentionally narrowed, and trees were planted in ways that intentionally disrupt drivers. The rationale: complex urban landscapes force drivers to be more cautious in busy areas.

The city also invested in new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, including a comprehensive bike lane network spanning over 1,500 kilometers. The public transport system was upgraded with driverless, zero-emission buses, and the European Investment Bank financed a new tram line.

These improvements reduced car use — and with it, serious accidents. The data confirms this: between 2003 and 2023, the number of traffic-related injuries in the city dropped from 727 to just 14.

And the result: Not a single person died in a traffic accident in Helsinki in 2024 — including cyclists.

Source: Habertürk

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