Crime & courts

Police see fewer drink-drivers in Finland despite more breath tests

Yle News reports that police carried out 17 percent more breathalyser checks this summer, while the number of suspected drink-drivers fell. Officers also say drunk e-scooter riding has become more common.

Police officer administering a breathalyzer test to a driver in a car, ensuring road safety.
Police officer administering a breathalyzer test to ensure road safety. Łukasz Promiler · Pexels

Police in Finland say they have caught fewer drink-drivers this summer than during last year’s traffic surveillance campaign, even though officers carried out 17 percent more breathalyser tests. The figures suggest that intensified checks did not lead to a higher number of detections on the roads.

According to Yle News, the summer campaign has also highlighted a different problem: more drunk people have been seen riding e-scooters. Police did not give further details in the brief report, and it is still unclear how large the increase is or where it has been most visible.

The trend matters because it points to changing risks in summer traffic. While drink-driving appears to be down, police say impaired riding on light electric vehicles is becoming a more visible part of the enforcement picture.

Sources

Story based on reporting from the outlets above. Päivän Sanomat editorial rewrite.

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