Higher summer speed limits on Finnish motorways usually come back into force in late March or early April, but motorists may be able to drive faster on some southern highways starting this weekend.
The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (Ely) have decided that speed limits can be raised from 100 to 120 kilometres per hour on some motorways as early as 1 March. This will be done during daylight hours if weather and road conditions permit.
This applies to national road 1 between Turku and Lohja and national road 7 (E18) between Ring Road III in the capital region and Vaalimaa on the eastern border, at least.
However, the agency notes that spring driving conditions can vary rapidly depending on the road, time of day and weather.
Speed limits adjusted remotely in response to changing conditions
Cars can drive up to 100 kph on most major highways during the winter, but one exception in the southeast this winter has been on Route 7 in Kotka, where a lower winter speed limit of 80 kph has been in effect between the Sutela and Suurniitty interchanges since the beginning of December.
According to the Ely Centre of Southeast Finland, this section of the motorway is an accident black spot, as it has many interchanges, high rush-hour traffic volumes during and steep bends at the so-called Karhula Canyon, a deep underpass built in the 1970s. Summer speed limits will be restored here too at the beginning of March, if weather and road conditions permit, though.
The transport agency Fintraffic can adjust the electronic variable speed limit signs remotely from its road traffic centres based on weather and traffic conditions. These include accidents, road works, obstacles or animals on the road, for instance.
6.30pm: Corrected name of transport agency.
The All Points North podcast looked at Finnish driving culture late last year. The episode is available here, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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