Be safe on the water and on the road this summer – check out our six safety tips

10.6.2025

Holiday trips, boating and swimming increase the amount of time Finns spend on the water and on the road. This also leads to increased numbers of accidents. The Accident Prevention Day will be observed on Friday 13 June.

The number of accidents both on the water and on the road increase significantly in the summer. You can improve safety by making sure that you and your loved ones have the ability to function at all times.

Risk of drowning increases with age

Approximately 100–150 people drown by accident in Finland each year; half of these fatalities occur in the summer. The risk of drowning increases with age and is associated with a reduction in functional capacity.

Good functional capacity on the waterreduces the risk of falling off the dock or boat, for example. It also improves the chances of being able to get back on dry land after an accident has occurred,” says Water Safety Specialist Anne Hiltunen from the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation.

“Most drowning incidents occur in familiar waters, close to the shoreline. Wearing a life jacket and being sober on the water would reduce the number of drowning incidents dramatically. Most drowning victims, upwards of 80 per cent, are men, and older people are an especially prominent demographic in the statistics. Often, your functional capacity deteriorates without you realising it, and even familiar activities in water become riskier,” Hiltunen says.

You can strengthen your physical functional capacity by moving and doing balance and strength training. It is important to be aware of your own limits and bring a friend along on swimming and boating trips.

Assess your driving ability before travel and follow the rules 

Last year, 177 people died in road traffic accidents. 

In addition to close calls, fatigue causes  serious accidents, especially in summer time. These accidents typically involve head-on collisions or vehicles driving off the road. Most physical injuries caused by drunk driving also occur in the summer months, and most of the casualties and injured people in these incidents are men. 

According to a survey by the Finnish Road Safety Council, 91% of Finnish drivers say that they only drive completely sober in principle.

“This is the right principle. You must not drive when you are intoxicated or even tired or drowsy. Being under the legal blood alcohol content limit does not mean that the driver is as sharp as they could be; your driving ability will be impacted starting from the very first drink,” says Planner and Anticipatory Driving Specialist Toni Vuoristo from the Finnish Road Safety Council.

Before embarking on a longer journey, it is a good idea to plan your route and schedule so that you have time to take breaks and be refreshed. Moderate speed and sufficient safe distances make driving safer and more pleasant.

“The seat belt is an essential piece of safety equipment in a car, much like the life jacket in a boat. The seat belt saves lives even at low speeds,” Vuoristo says.

Six tips for a safe summer: 

1. Follow the rules and restrictions on the water and on the road.
2. Always wear a life jacket on the water.
3. Always have a friend with you when swimming.
4. Fasten your seat belt.
5. Stay sober at the wheel and on the water.
6. Remember to be patient and avoid needing to rush.

The Accident Prevention Day campaign will be held on 9–15 June. Accident Prevention Day is always held around Friday the 13th. The campaign encourages people to think of ways for everyone to reduce risks and prevent accidents at home, during leisure time and at work. The campaign is arranged by the Accident Prevention Network formed by associations, authorities and private operators, which is coordinated by the Finnish Red Cross.

Finnish Road Safety Council survey: Finnish Road Safety Council and Verian 2024, N=860 (driver respondents). 

Enquiries:

Water Safety Specialist Anne Hiltunen, Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation, tel. +358 (0)10 3407 333

Planner and Anticipatory Driving Specialist Toni Vuoristo, Finnish Road Safety Council, tel. +358 (0)20 7282 349

Health Promotion Planning Officer Saara Aakko, Finnish Red Cross, tel. +358 (0)40 621 4116

Accident Prevention Day test

Join the Accident Prevention Day webinar on 10 June from 5 to 6 p.m. (in Finnish)

Accident Prevention Day campaign page (in Finnish)

Viisaasti vesillä (in Finnish)