Motorists urged to use winter tyres as snowfall leads dozens accidents

The sudden snowfall in Lapland, Oulu and Eastern Finland caused dozens of road accidents on Wednesday.

Police recorded a total of 54 road accidents in Eastern Finland from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm due to the sudden snowfall from early in the morning.

However, the accidents were minor, and no human casualty was reported in the region.

Out of the accidents, 27 took place in North Savo, 16 in South Savo and 11 in North Karelia.

Police also reported several dozens of road accidents in Lapland and Oulu areas. The exact number, however, could not be known.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday urged the motorists to use winter tyres now when the roads may be slippery at night and in the morning, even in the southern parts of the country, according to a press release of the National Police Board.

According to the Road Traffic Act, the car must have winter tyres – if the weather or road conditions so require – from the beginning of November to the end of March.

“This means that winter tyres are a must also throughout November and March, if the weather and road conditions so require,” Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board Heikki Kallio explained.

But if the weather or road conditions do not call for winter tyres, it is permissible to drive with the summer tyres.

“The Act refers to such road conditions where the road network in an area, the smaller roads included, would impose the use of winter tyres for existing or potential slipperiness,” Kallio added.

In individual cases, the traffic control authorities, normally the Police, determines whether the circumstances would make winter tyres necessary. Some of those driving with summer tyres in winter conditions may cause crashes or driving off the road, said police.

The Road Traffic Act underlines the road user’s own traffic responsibility. The winter tyre provision also counts on the driver’s judgement.

When the roads are slippery, motorist must not drive with summer tyres. This means that motorists should not take off in the morning with winter tyres if later in the day, snowfall or otherwise slippery conditions are expected.

However, if the slippery conditions come as a “surprise,” motorists should neither drive back home with the car.

If there is snow on the road, winter conditions clearly prevail. But if the road is partly icy in a random place after the night frost, the police are not necessarily dealing with winter conditions.