Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, had gone a year without a single traffic fatality, until today.
Helsinki, Finland‘s capital, broke records by going a year without a traffic death until August 2025.
The city of 660,000 inhabitants (1.6 million if you include the surrounding metropolitan region) pulled off the astounding accomplishment after years of deadly traffic crashes in the single digits.
While the statistic was cautiously applauded, it was unfortunately short-lived.
On August 1, a 70-year-old cyclist died in a collision with another bike in Helsinki’s eastern suburb of Meri-Rastila, only days after breaking the city record.
Nonetheless, the incredibly low numbers reflect the city’s continued (and inventive) efforts.
In Finland, the overall number of fatal traffic accidents has declined in recent years.
The Nordic country recorded just 194 fatalities in 2024, the lowest in over two decades.
While this data is national rather than city-specific, Helsinki’s figures are consistent with the good declining trend and are at the forefront of demonstrating what can be accomplished with significantly enhanced road safety.
Radun tells Yahoo News that the city lost four people in 2024, six in 2023, and five in 2022.
The Urban Environment Division, which is in charge of urban planning, building, and maintenance in Helsinki, is working to improve the city’s traffic safety record.
Helsinki’s recent success is attributed to the progressive method specified in the department’s traffic safety improvement project, which began in 2022.
Speeding is also regarded seriously in Finland. Inside and outside of Helsinki, the media has focused heavily on the exorbitant fines for drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 20 km.
In Finland, traffic penalties are computed depending on the offender’s income using a “day-fine” system (called paivasakko), thus the punishment is proportionate to how much you pay.
To compute a day fine, the authorities first determine your monthly net income, then remove €255, which is comparable to a basic living stipend, then divide the remainder by 60.
The penalties have gotten international media attention, with wealthy sausage manufacturer Jussi Salonoja making it into the Guinness Book of Records after receiving a record-breaking speeding charge of €170,000 (£148,000) for driving 80 km/h (50mph) in a 40 km/h (25mph) zone in Helsinki.
