Casualties in drunk driving in Finland on wane in July

The number of casualties in drunken or intoxicated driving accidents decreased in Finland in July this year compared the previous two years, said police on Friday.

A total of 41 people were killed or injured in intoxicated driving accidents in July 2024 and the number was 55 in July 2023 and 74 in July 2022.

Meanwhile, a total of 882 people suspected of drunk driving or boating under the influence were caught during a special drive by police in July, of whom 442 people of some other intoxicating substance.

The police monitored drunk driving and boating under the influence throughout the country from July 1 to July 28.

About 94,000 breathalyser tests for alcohol were conducted during the surveillance period and 1,228 saliva tests for other intoxicating substances and 1,509 people were caught.

About 34,000 fewer breathalyser tests were conducted during the same surveillance last year, and yet more suspected drink-drivers (1,545) were caught.

This year over a hundred more saliva tests were conducted to detect the use of some other intoxicating substance than last year.

The proportion of positive test results of the saliva tests this year was 32%, compared with 40% last year, a smaller proportion of the saliva tests, too, was positive.

Chief Superintendent Tuomo Katajisto from the National Police Board of Finland considered that even though the trend is right, there are still far too many intoxicated drivers in traffic.