238 killed in road mishaps across country in 2017

A total of 238 persons were killed and 5,574 injured in 4,432 road traffic accidents in the country in 2017, according to Statistics Finland.

In 2017, the number of deaths was 20 lower and that of injured persons 337 fewer than in 2016. Seventy-six per cent of those deceased and 57 per cent of the injured were men.

During 2017, altogether 409 persons were seriously injured in road traffic. Of them, 135 were private car drivers and 62 passengers. Fifty-two motorcyclists and 40 moped riders were seriously injured. Forty pedestrians and 40 cyclists were seriously injured.

In 2017, the number of road traffic deaths was highest in passenger cars, where 104 drivers and 29 passengers were killed. Out of the dead, 13 were motorcyclists, five were moped riders, 27 were pedestrians in road traffic accidents in 2017. The number of cyclists' road traffic deaths was 23.

The majority of accidents resulting in death were swerving accidents and head-on collisions. Fifty-eight people were killed in head-on collisions and 79 in swerving accidents. Of the injured, 28 per cent (1,569 persons) were involved in swerving accidents.

A total of 23 suicides were committed by collisions with a motor vehicle in 2017.