Home > Statistics > Statistics on road traffic accidents > 2018 > A total of 239 persons died in road traffic accidents and 485 were seriously injured in 2018

Published: 5 February 2020

A total of 239 persons died in road traffic accidents and 485 were seriously injured in 2018

According to Statistics Finland, 4,312 road traffic accidents involving personal injury occurred in 2018. In them, 239 persons were killed and 5,303 injured. Around nine per cent of the injured, or 485 persons, were injured seriously ¹⁾ . In 2018, the number of deaths was one person higher and that of injured persons 271 fewer than in 2017. Seventy-four per cent of those having died and 58 per cent of the injured were men.

Road traffic fatalities by age group in 1995 to 2018

In 2018, the number of road traffic fatalities decreased in all age groups of persons aged under 45 years, but more persons aged 16 and 18 died than in the year before. Seven persons aged 16 died in road traffic, which is two more than in the year before. Fourteen persons aged 18 died, which is nine more than in 2017. Of older age groups the largest increase was in the 45 to 54 age group. Their deaths amounted to 27, whereas the figure in the year before was 21. The number of injured persons declined in most age groups. The number of people injured in road traffic increased most in the 65 to 74 age group. In relative terms, the largest growth was in the number of injuries of persons aged 0 to 5.

During 2018, altogether 485 persons were seriously injured in road traffic. Of them, 160 were passenger car drivers and 68 passengers. Seventy-four motorcyclists and 44 moped riders were seriously injured. Forty-three pedestrians and 56 cyclists were seriously injured.

In 2018, the number of road traffic deaths was highest in passenger cars, where 113 drivers and 33 passengers were killed. Compared with the previous year, nine more drivers and four more passengers were killed. Twenty-four motorcyclists were killed, which is 11 more than in 2017. Three moped riders were killed, which is two fewer than in the year before. Altogether, 25 pedestrians were killed in road traffic accidents in 2017, which is two fewer than in the year before. The number of cyclists' road traffic deaths was 21, or two fewer than in 2017.

The majority of accidents resulting in death were head-on collisions and swerving accidents. Eighty-six people were killed in head-on collisions and 77 in swerving accidents. Of the injured, 25 per cent (1,351 persons) were involved in swerving accidents.

A total of 27 suicides involving a motor vehicle were committed in road traffic in 2018. Their share of road traffic fatalities was around ten per cent ²⁾ .

In 2018, the number of alcohol-related accidents involving personal injury was 407, which is 39 fewer than in 2017. Of these, 370 were drunken driving accidents. A total of 37 persons died and 500 persons were injured in drunken driving accidents in 2018, while in the previous year, the corresponding figures were 52 deaths and 549 injured persons.

Most road traffic accidents involving personal injury occurred during the summer months. Most accidents involving personal injury occurred in July, 482 in total, of which 30 were fatal accidents and 452 were accidents resulting in injury. In all, 61 accidents resulting in serious injury occurred in July 2018.

1) A seriously injured person refers to a person involved in a road traffic accident who is classified as being seriously injured in accordance with the AIS Abbreviated Injury Scale (AAAM, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine). In addition to the road traffic accident data, the data of the care register of the National Institute for Health and Welfare were used in the classification of injuries.
2) Source: Statistics on Causes of death, Statistics Finland.

Source: Transport and Tourism: Statistics on road traffic accidents. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mervi Härkönen 029 551 3254, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

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Updated 05.02.2020