A year without road deaths. How Helsinki became a global benchmark for road safety
The Helsinki metropolitan region in Finland, with a population of about 1.4 million people, has achieved an undeniable breakthrough in road safety. Euronews investigated what other EU capitals and major cities can learn from its experience.
By 2030, private cars will be banned from entering this major transport hub in the city center. Photo: Euronews
About 40 years ago, the Finnish capital began developing new solutions to reduce the number of fatal road accidents and then eliminate them entirely. These efforts have already paid off: from 2024 to 2025, the city recorded no road deaths for 12 consecutive months.
For comparison, during the same period, 31 people—drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists—died on the streets of Paris. And by the time this Euronews report was filmed, Helsinki had gone another nine consecutive months without a single fatal accident.
Ronni Utriainen is a traffic engineer in the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Department. Photo: Euronews
Comprehensive urban planning played a key role, but many other factors were also involved.
"Of course, it's important to make our transport environment safer, but more responsible road user behavior, safer cars, and legislation and enforcement are equally important," explains Ronni Utriainen, a traffic engineer in the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Department.
"The city has reduced speed limits, improved infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, narrowed roadways, and installed speed cameras. Our public transport is highly developed, which also helps reduce car trips and collisions."
Cars banned. A recently opened tunnel exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. Photo: Euronews
Matti Hirvonen (left) and Martti Tulenheimo represent two different Finnish cycling associations. Photo: Euronews
For the past 20 years, the Finnish capital has actively invested in infrastructure to improve road safety, including tunnels in busy business centers and bridges connecting neighboring areas — built exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists.
"The overall sense of safety has significantly improved over the last decade," acknowledges Martti Tulenheimo, a chief specialist at the Finnish Cyclists' Federation.
"Last year, Helsinki invested about 35 million euros in infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. This might sound like a large sum, but it accounts for only 13% of the total budget for transport investments," confirms another chief specialist, Matti Hirvonen from the Network of Finnish Cycling Municipalities.
A long journey: Helsinki started planning how to improve street safety 40 years ago. Photo: Euronews
Pasi Anteroinen is the CEO of Liikenneturva, the Finnish Road Safety Council. Photo: Euronews
Now the city is looking ahead and intends to further improve safety indicators: from 2030, private cars will be banned from busy streets around the Central Railway Station, explains Pasi Anteroinen, CEO of Liikenneturva, the Finnish Road Safety Council.
"The main question is public acceptance. What is acceptable for a given country or city? What do we expect? The residents of Helsinki have decided they want safer streets."
Denis Pastesterstein, head of the Helsinki Police Traffic Control Department. Photo: Euronews
About 20 years ago, the city set a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h on its streets. There has long been a firm and widely shared attitude of zero tolerance for speeding or driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
"The city has strengthened automatic enforcement. We have 70 automatic speed cameras. In addition, raids are carried out during which speed limits and blood alcohol levels are checked. Of course, all types of transport are controlled," explains Denis Pastesterstein, head of the Helsinki Police Traffic Control Department. "Another important area is information campaigns. We are actively working on social networks. Last year, for example, our accounts garnered 30 million views. Such campaigns increase visibility hundreds and thousands of times compared to a single issued fine. The impact on driver behavior is enormous."
The EU's Vision Zero strategy aims to get as close as possible to zero road deaths by 2050. Photo: Euronews
The European Union's Vision Zero strategy aims to get as close as possible to zero road deaths by 2050. Its core idea is that fatalities and serious injuries on the roads are preventable.
What can other EU capitals and major cities learn from Helsinki's successful experience?
"This goal was set here 40 years ago. Now it has become a reality. It's important to set goals and look to the future," says Martti Tulenheimo.
"If I had to pick just one thing, it would be lowering speed limits. That's important. You can start there," explains traffic engineer Ronni Utriainen.
"Of course, every city is unique. Some European capitals are ten times larger than Helsinki, but they can still strive to get better every day," concludes Pasi Anteroinen, CEO of the Finnish Road Safety Council.
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