The annual winter holiday season is once again upon us and, as customary, schools start their holidays in three batches on 17 and 24 February and 3 March 2025, depending on the region. On the roads, there is a clear increase in the volume of northbound traffic during the holiday season. Fintraffic, the National Police Board of Finland, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services, the Emergency Response Centre Agency and the Finnish Road Safety Council highlight the importance of preparation to ensure safe road traffic.
“During the upcoming winter holiday weekends, roads will be busier than normal, so you should set aside more time for your journey. The volume of traffic will begin to increase already on Friday, 14 February, so it is important to drive responsibly. Amongst other things, this entails avoiding unnecessary overtaking, maintaining safe distances and taking the road conditions into consideration,” says Eero Sauramäki, Head of Road Traffic Management, Fintraffic.
Rest well before driving and anticipate driving conditions
As usual, the police will monitor traffic safety around the country, with a special focus on speeding, the fitness to drive and driving styles, e.g. maintaining safe distances, the use of seat belts and phones as well as using appropriate tyres for the road conditions.
“Safe winter holiday traffic starts with well-rested and focused drivers. Tiredness has an adverse effect on your reactions and concentration so it is important to get a good rest before the journey, especially for longer journeys where changeable road conditions pose extra challenges for the driver,” says Police Inspector Heikki Kallio from the National Police Board.
You should take the changeable winter conditions into account when planning your journey, especially if you have a long drive ahead of you.
“Finland is a long country. When driving from Helsinki to Kittilä, the weather can change several times from sunshine to snow. Before setting off, it pays off to check the weather forecast for the entire journey and, if necessary, allocate more time or book a place to stay for the night along the way. If the weather gets bad during the journey, you should reduce your speed and maintain a longer safe distance,” says Pasi Pohjonen from the Finnish Road Safety Council.
With the Fintraffic App, you can check traffic notifications as well as the traffic congestion, driving conditions and winter maintenance situation on your route. The Finnish Meteorological Institute compiles weather forecasts and prevailing weather warnings on its website.
Don’t let winter conditions catch you by surprise – equip your car properly
Preparing for winter holiday travel improves the safety and smoothness of your trip. Jussi Pohjonen, Head of Unit at Traficom, points out that it is important to ensure that the car has everything you need in case of surprises and that your luggage is safely packed.
“In winter, it is a good idea to make sure that the car has everything you need for surprises and that your luggage is correctly and safely packed. Before your trip, check that your tyres have sufficient tread and air pressure. Make sure that the lights work properly and the windscreen washing fluid can withstand subzero temperatures. You should also pack warm clothes, a torch, a snowbrush, an ice scraper and a backup power supply for long trips.”
It is also important to pay attention to how you pack your car: place heavy items at the bottom of the boot and close to the backrest of the back seat. It is essential that you can still see through the rear window, so if you have a lot of luggage, a ski box can be a convenient addition.
Remind yourself of procedure in event of accident
Winter driving conditions and busy traffic increase the risk of road accidents. To ensure correct and safe action in an accident, it is important that everyone knows what to do.
“In an accident, it is important to make sure that the rescue authorities have been notified and that the accident does not lead into further accidents. If you notice a traffic accident, turn on your hazard lights to warn the drivers behind you of the situation ahead. If you are one of the first people to arrive on the scene of the accident, stop in a safe place and keep your hazard lights on. Move along the shoulder of the road to the site of the accident. To help prevent further accidents, turn off the vehicle involved in the accident and warn other traffic. Remember to ensure your own safety and take the vehicles passing the accident site into account when helping any injured parties,” says Juha Virolainen, Senior Inspector at the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services.
If the rescue operations are already under way, focus on passing the site safely, i.e. slow down and follow the instructions. Do not take photos or video of the accident.
The Emergency Response Centre Agency also highlights the 112 Suomi app as a tool for getting help quickly to the accident site.
“Remember that we all have a duty to help. When you call from the 112 Suomi app, your exact location is automatically shared with the Emergency Response Centre, ensuring rapid aid to the correct location. So download the free app on to your phone and familiarise yourself in advance with the app and its services so that you know how to use it in an emergency,” says Development Manager Tommi Hopearuoho from the Emergency Response Centre Agency.
View forecasts from Fintraffic Road Traffic Centre
Friday, 14 February, and Saturday, 15 February, are expected to be the busiest days of outbound traffic during the winter holiday, with holiday-goers travelling north from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Southwest Finland and Satakunta regions. Traffic volumes will increase on Friday afternoon, and there may be intermittent queues, especially on the exit roads from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as well as on main roads 4, 5 and 9 up to Jyväskylä and Mikkeli. Traffic volumes that are higher than on normal winter Sundays are also expected for Sunday, 16 February. However, the outbound traffic will be moderate compared to the previous days. Occasional queues may also form in the vicinity of northern tourist destinations, particularly on Friday and Saturday.
Shift during second weekend: Saturday busiest day in traffic
When holidaymakers from Southern Finland are returning home, residents of Central Finland will embark on their holiday. On Friday, 21 February, the volume of returning traffic in Southern Finland as well as the volume of outgoing and returning traffic in Central Finland will increase. However, the busiest day of the week is Saturday, 22 February, when there is going to be a large amount of northbound traffic, especially on main roads 4, 5 and 9. The volume of southbound traffic will increase further on Sunday, 23 February, although it will in all likelihood be lower than on Saturday. On Sunday, the most popular routes will be main roads 3, 4, 5 and 9. Queues can also be expected near northern tourist destinations, particularly on Friday and Saturday.
Third peak in northbound traffic in late February and early March
The last traffic peak during the holiday weeks will take place at the first weekend of March, with the previous week’s holidaymakers returning simultaneously with holidays starting in Northern and Eastern Finland. On Friday, 28 February, and Sunday, 2 March, traffic will be busy in the north, especially on the Oulu–Kemi–Rovaniemi (main road 4) and Oulu–Kuusamo (main road 20) routes.
