IS IT WORTHWHILE TO INVEST IN TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFORTS? Matti Järvinen Liikenneturva Finland

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1 IS IT WORTHWHILE TO INVEST IN TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFORTS? Matti Järvinen Liikenneturva Finland 1

2 Facts of Finland 5.3 million people 4.5 million vehicles, 3.4 million driving licenses, km roads 378 deaths in traffic = 7deaths / inhabitants / year Insurance companies compensate annually 100,000 traffic accidents of which 15,000 involve bodily injuries about 380 fatal accidents, about 400 permanently injured Compensations in million as compensation from traffic insurance policies

3 Killed in road traffic accidents by road user group and safety target Killed in previous 12 months Bicyclists, pedestrians No more than 250 road traffic fatalities per year by In passenger cars Others The traffic safety work is based on National Traffic Safety Plan and the Government s resolutions. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Total Source: Statistics Finland and Central Organization for Traffic Safety in Finland, 2006 & 2007 preliminary data 3/2007

4 Road accident costs in Finland 2006 Fatal accidents Cost per accident Total million million Injury-related accidents million Total costs million Calculated by using the report: Total Driving Unit Costs in Road Traffic (Finnish Road Administration)

5 Insurance compensations in million as compensation from traffic insurance policies 57 % of this amount was personal compensation. In total 251 million average comp. 15, million as property compensation average comp. 2,100 In addition, voluntary car insurance policies compensated property damages for 320 million

6 History Road safety work in Finland since The Central Organisation for Traffic Safety (Talja / since 1974 Liikenneturva) was set up 1951 traffic safety charge became a part of motor liability insurance premium The start: Traffic safety Committee 1951: Because the total amount of motorvehicles is substantial *, a small yearly traffic safety charge per motorvehicle will produce a meaningful sum of money for traffic safety work. A charge of 100 marks is quite small so that it would not awake bad response and it would not be useful to be collected separately. * In 1950 on the Finnish roads there were 61,256 cars, 7,959 motorcycles and 375 fatalities

7 History. The Association of Traffic Insurers suggested The Ministry of Social Affairs to take 2 % of the traffic insurance premiums to traffic safety work. Ministry made the decision on 22 June 1951 Included in the Motor Liability Act 1 January Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies (VALT) was established under The Finnish Motor Insurers Centre (LVK). Investigation teams started also 1967 (VALT). Since 2001 the teams operate under The Ministry of Transport and Communication (Road Accidents Investigation Delegation) Since 1950 s private insurers own traffic safety work: training courses and materials, statistics, instructions, expert services, bonus/malus system.

8 The development of financing The percentage system the charge varied between 2 0,8 % Euro -system since 1995 to avoid unsteadiness and fluctuations (the income got halved in ! according to yearly action plan

9 The use of the traffic safety charge 2008 In 2008 totally 6.97 million 5.4 million share of Liikenneturva (* 1.5 million share of investigation work 38,000 share of Province Åland Furthermore, insurance companies use about 1 million for their own traffic safety work (* about 2 / car owner about 1 / inhabitant

10 Activities

11 Liikenneturva The Central Organisation for Traffic Safety in Finland Communication Life long traffic education Campaigns Further training of Drivers Statistics and reseach Information service

12 LIIKENNETURVA The Central Organisation for Traffic Safety in Finland 58 member organisations Under the Ministry of Transport and Communications Main tasks to influence attitudes, behaviour, knowledge, awareness campaigns, information, education, driver training statistics, research Administration General Meeting (member organisations) Executive Committee (1 + 11) - chairman elected by the Government - 7 members from member organisations (General Meeting) - 4 from ministries (Traffic and Communications, Social and Health, Education, Interior police) Staff 49 persons of which 17 stationed in (11) regional offices

13 The strategy of insurance sector in national traffic safety work (2008) Goals - To be reliable and respected expert, partner and source of information in national rs work Methods Membership in auth. working groups. Projects, initiativs and statements. Data registers, investigation boards, documents - To provide a discussion forum for the scientific research of the sector - To function as a data bank for insurance sector and a communication channel to the authorities VALT scientific group, studies Sector views to the decision ma- Kers, expert consulting for member companies

14 Investigation teams Since 1967 All the fatal road and off-road accidents are investigated 500 cases a year Standardised in-depth on-the-spot investigation method, revised multidisciplinary teams nationwide - police, road specialist, vehicle specialist, physician, psychologist, railway expert, other experts All parties, involved motor vehicles and road conditions are investigated no stand for guilt

15 Operation at the Scene of Accident

16 Analysis and Investigation Report

17 Investigation organisation Ministry of Transport and Communications Sets the investigation counselling board and approves the action plan Traffic accident investigation counselling board Sets investigation teams, appoints members, monitors activities Investigation teams 20 teams; membership approximately 260 Investigated accidents appr. 70 = 414 (2007) The Finnish Motor Insurers Centre Organises operations Arranges funding (statute by Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) VALT Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies VALT Science Team VALT Expert Team

18 Use of Investigation material Up-to-date information to the media Annual reports Special reports on various subjects Ground material for legislative work Scientific and other research work Education, information and publishing For municipal road safety work International research projects Material is available free of charge for the purpose of road safety work.

19 Why does traffic safety work benefit also insurance companies? - It provides added value to insurance company s own customers and brings them closer to the company - It supports corporate image. Tapiola values emphasise ethical operations and making a difference in society. Traffic Safety Manager Markus Nieminen, Tapiola Group - Customers benefit from a decrease in the amount of accidents

20 Nils Ekström The chairman of The Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies

Investigation of Road and Cross-country Traffic Accidents

Investigation of Road and Cross-country Traffic Accidents Road Safety Researcher Finnish Motor Insurers Centre (FMIC) Road Accident Investication firstname.lastname@vakes.fi Reykjavik 4.6.2014 Investigation