112 driving, rest-time violations detected

A total of 112 driving and rest-time violations and 33 tachograph violations were detected during the intensified monitoring of heavy traffic last week.

During the entire last week, 23 to 29 July, the police engaged in large-scale, intensive monitoring of heavy traffic, which was not announced in advance, said a press release on Wednesday.

Five cases of tachograph manipulation were also revealed.

During the week, around 1,400 working hours were devoted to inspections and 1,070 vehicles, 1,060 of which were heavy vehicles, were checked. Of the vehicles, 883 were Finnish and 177 foreign. Ten coaches were included.

The journey of seven vehicles was completely interrupted due to the poor condition of the vehicle and a total of 50 penalties were imposed for the offences.

Penalties were also imposed for various violations such as faulty securing of loads (33), and offences related to the driver’s and the vehicle’s paperwork (21). Two of the stopped drivers were wanted by the police.

Two intoxicated drivers were apprehended, one of whom was under the influence of alcohol and the other of some narcotic substance.

“No equivalent traffic monitoring exercise was arranged in 2017. There is a clear need for police monitoring when transport professionals do not handle issues professionally” on their own, said National Police Board Chief Superintendent Heikki Ihalainen. In principle, no violations at all should be revealed by the monitoring exercises.

In addition, 36 cases of the driver using a mobile phone or other communication device were detected.

With regard to freight traffic, the monitoring was directed at compliance with driving and rest times, the securing of loads, and vehicle condition in particular.