The number of fatal road crashes caused by drivers younger then 26 rose by almost 25 percent in Finland in 1996. The major reason for the increase was the 40 percent increase in drink driving by the young drivers. This information was included in a summary of the preliminary figures recorded by the Road Accident investigation Teams for the year 1996. The total number of occupant-fatal crashes caused by young drivers was 86 last year. Alcohol was involved in 31, or 36 percent, of the cases. Alcohol was involved in 31 percent of the crashes in 1995. In the early 1990s, the proportion of fatalities caused by young drivers fell distinctly, and the trend was the same in drink driving and speeding related crashes. Last year also witnessed an increase in the number of fatalities involving young drivers caused by speeding. According to this preliminary review compiled by the Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies (VALT), the Finnish Road Accident Investigation Teams surveyed 241 occupant-fatal crashes in 1996 (247 accidents in 1995). Of the total number, 143 were collisions (156 in 1995) and 98 were single-vehicle accidents (91 in 1995). A total of 286 persons were killed in the crashes (279 in 1995), 197 were injured (224 in 1995) and 145 survived the crash unhurt (190 in 1995).
Abstract