Radio | News week in plain Finnish | Sunday 10.8.2025

Level crossings.

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This week’s news topic is railway and road level crossings. There were many accidents in Finland during the week where a train and a car collided. There are many dangerous level crossings in Finland.

Let’s talk more about it now.

Several accidents at level crossings

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Photo: Kalle Mäkelä / Yle

There were 4 accidents in Finland this week, in which a train and a car collided. 3 people died in the accidents. The accidents occurred in Siilinjärvi, Turku, Loimaa and Heinävesi.

The accidents occurred at a level crossing. At a level crossing, a road and a train track meet. The accident occurs when a motorist crosses the train tracks. For some reason, the motorist does not notice that a train is approaching the crossing.

In Finland, a total of over 500 accidents have occurred at level crossings in the 2000s.

Dangerous level crossings

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Photo: Kare Lehtonen / Yle

There are many dangerous level crossings in Finland. There are over 50 extremely dangerous level crossings. A level crossing is dangerous if there is no warning device in front of the railway line. The warning device can be a barrier or a traffic light. At a dangerous level crossing, it is also difficult for a motorist to see whether a train is approaching the crossing.

The authority says that the level crossings must be safer than they are now. However, changing the level crossings costs a lot of money. In addition, the landowner may file a complaint about the new road route. The court process for the complaint will take a long time.

Driving at a level crossing

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Photo: Sami Takkinen / Yle

Drivers should approach level crossings with caution. They should drive slowly when the train tracks are nearby. Drivers should look in both directions several times if there are no barriers at the level crossing.

Drivers must remember that the train cannot swerve off the tracks. The train also stops slowly.

If the weather is bad, it may not be advisable to cross the level crossing at all. Drivers should choose an alternative route.

Repetition

The topic of the week was road and railway level crossings. 3 people died in accidents involving a train and a car within a week. There are many dangerous level crossings in Finland. Changing a level crossing is expensive.

This was Uutisviikko in plain Finnish. See you again, bye!