Drivers in Finland urged to maintain safe distances as winter conditions loom

Drivers in Finland are being reminded to maintain safe distances on the roads, especially as winter weather conditions begin to affect driving. Outi Seppälä, a traffic operator at the Finnish transport center Fintraffic, emphasizes the importance of considering longer braking distances due to slippery or wet road surfaces.

Seppälä notes that while driving conditions in Uusimaa have been generally good, there have been instances of icy spots. Most road surfaces have been dry, and areas affected by ice have been treated with salt. National weather reports indicate that temperatures in many parts of the country dipped below freezing on Wednesday night.

Ilona Kokko, another traffic operator at Fintraffic, points out that icy conditions have been reported in various locations across Finland, especially in the mornings. The coldest and most dangerous ice conditions are found in Northern Finland, with some icy spots also present in Pirkanmaa and beyond.

Accidents occurred in the morning in the Häme region, where two cars collided with a truck on Highway 3 in Hattula. No injuries were reported, but the vehicles were rendered undriveable. Icy conditions were also a factor in an accident on Road 54 in Loppi.

Icy conditions are particularly prevalent on bridges. Throughout the morning, Fintraffic reported accidents on Highway 12 in Hämeenlinna and on highway connections in Janakkala and Riihimäki.

As the weather fluctuates, forecaster Elias Paakkanen predicts that warmer air from the southwest will reach Finland towards the end of the week, raising temperatures significantly in southern and western areas, and even reaching up to 15 degrees Celsius in some places.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has advised that it is still too early to switch to studded tires in most parts of the country, adhering to legal requirements to use winter tires between November and March when necessary. Seppälä encourages drivers to stay updated on weather forecasts and suggests those with non-studded tires can switch them out if desired.