Increasing deaths of children, youths in traffic worry police

The police are deeply concerned about this year's grim statistics on road traffic fatalities among children and young people under 18, said police in a press release on Friday.

Although the number of road fatalities is significantly lower now than it was ten years ago, the trend for children and young people has taken a clear step backwards in 2024.

In 2023, road traffic claimed 185 lives, and this year's figures look set to be similar.

But there has been an exceptionally high number of deaths of children aged under 15.

Initial data from January to November shows that nine children have already died on the roads, compared to an annual average of 4-5 deaths in recent years.

Since an examination of the share of deaths of children aged under 18 also shows an increase compared to previous years, the problem is not only young children.

In 2022 (January-November) 14 minors died, in 2023, 10 and this year 19 minors under 18 have already lost their lives in road traffic.

A particularly positive year in child road traffic safety was 2023, when just one child aged under 15 lost their life.

“This year’s increase in road traffic deaths of children and young people must be stopped. The question arises as to the cause of the increase and how child road safety can be improved,” Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio said.

In 2024, road traffic has claimed the lives of nineteen persons aged under 18. Of them two were car drivers, six were car passengers, one was a van driver, one was a motorcycle rider, one was a moped rider, four were pedestrians, two were cyclists and two were riding e-scooters.

The police point out that every road traffic fatality is one too many and remind all road users of the importance of being vigilant, obeying speed limits, safety devices (lights, reflectors, seat belts) and generally complying with the rules of the road.

In particular, taking children's safety into account requires all road users to act responsibly when they see children on the road.

This is also required by the Road Traffic Act – when vehicle drivers approach a child, they must exercise particular caution including reducing speed and taking extra vigilant.

The police also vowed to continue their enforcement activities, especially in traffic environments that are dangerous for children, and will work with other actors to improve road safety for children.