To be repeated: no raising of two line road speed limit this summer

Photo: Peeter Kümmel / Sakala

The governmental traffic committee has ruled that, in spite of traffic situation improving last year, road safety measures are to be continued. For instance: as last year, speed limits will not be raised on two lane roads the upcoming summer.

At yesterday’s meeting, the committee said it is also considering lowering speed limits for winter.

According to initial estimates, there were 1377 serious traffic accidents last year with 87 losses of life and 1702 people injured. Compared to 2011, the numbers of accidents, deaths and injuries all declined, by 115, 14 and 175 respectively.

The situation improved most on rural roads – by 15 percent – as the number of accidents inside urban communities only declined by 3 percent.

As the overall death toll decreased, the number of pedestrians killed increased by 2 persons, however. Indeed, pedestrian safety was the main problem on rural roads, where 18 pedestrians lost their lives – more than twice the death toll of the year before.

This year, the speed camera project is to be continued, with cameras appearing at the roads of Harju County.

The traffic committee thus approved the proposal set forward by Estonian Road Administration not to raise the speed limit to 100 km/h on two lane roads (on Class I four lane roads, the 110 km/h limit for summer remains in force).

The traffic committee, established in 2008, is headed by minister of economic affairs and communications Juhan Parts. Its tasks include coordination of activities related to traffic security, advising government on traffic safety issues, and making traffic safety proposals to the government.