Police have issued around 4,400 fines so far this year -- about one third more than during the same period last year.
Fewer than 7,500 fines were handed to motorists using mobile phones all of last year. If police continue to issue fines at this year’s current rate, around 10,000 drivers could be fined by the end of the year.
According to a study published last year by the Central Organisation for Traffic Safety in Finland, Liikenneturva, 44 percent of drivers own a hands-free device. In 2003, the number was 52 percent. That’s when legislation banning mobile phone use while driving came into force.
Antero Lammi of Liikenneturva told Turun Sanomat that many motorists do not consider mobile phone use while driving to be detrimental because they see it all the time.
The fine for driving while talking on the phone is 50 euros.
