The Government's No Makes the Goal of Reducing Traffic Fatalities More Difficult

The government says no to measuring vehicle speed between different speed cameras. A tough blow to the goal of halving the number of traffic fatalities by 2030, according to the Swedish Transport Administration. Now it will be even harder, that's how it is, says Maria Krafft, traffic safety director at the agency.

» Updated:

» Published:

The Government's No Makes the Goal of Reducing Traffic Fatalities More Difficult
Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

Share this article

Measuring how fast vehicles travel between different speed cameras could ultimately prevent at least seven deaths per year, according to the Swedish Transport Administration.

But the proposal was rejected by the government last week.

We have announced in the infrastructure bill that we will not proceed with this type of proposal at present, said Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) on Thursday.

Tough goal

According to Maria Krafft, traffic safety director at the Swedish Transport Administration, the decision risks making it more difficult to achieve the government's own milestone of halving the number of road fatalities by 2030.

It's a very tough goal, and then we need to work with all possible measures, she says.

This would have been a very cost-effective way to make a difference. But now we need to do more in other areas instead.

"Leveled out"

It was in 2020 that the then government set a milestone of halving the number of road fatalities. To achieve the milestone in road traffic, no more than 133 people per year may be killed – last year it was 229.

Maria Krafft has already warned that the milestone may be difficult to achieve at the current pace. After the government's no to the new speed cameras, it will become even more difficult, she fears.

The decrease in the number of fatalities has leveled out, so more things need to happen, she says.

But we need to sit down and see how we can turn it around. There are more ways to work on it, but this would have been a way that could have had an effect fairly quickly.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Man Arrested in Barcelona Over Swedish Murder Plot Links

Man Arrested in Barcelona Over Swedish Murder Plot Links

Court Reduces Sentence for Man Convicted of Raping Elderly Woman

Court Reduces Sentence for Man Convicted of Raping Elderly Woman

Teenage Boy Dies in A-Traktor Crash in Borlänge

Teenage Boy Dies in A-Traktor Crash in Borlänge

Mattias Karlsson of The Moderate Party Reported to Police for Incitement

Mattias Karlsson of The Moderate Party Reported to Police for Incitement

Prison Service Chief Opposes Jailing 13-Year-Olds for Serious Crimes

Prison Service Chief Opposes Jailing 13-Year-Olds for Serious Crimes

Man Arrested After Breaking Into Ambulance for Medication in Ystad

Man Arrested After Breaking Into Ambulance for Medication in Ystad

White Dwarf Consumes Pluto-like Planet Remnants 260 Light Years Away

White Dwarf Consumes Pluto-like Planet Remnants 260 Light Years Away

Jas Gripen Jet Returns Safely After Fault Alert Near Gotland

Jas Gripen Jet Returns Safely After Fault Alert Near Gotland

Forest Industries Criticize Swedish Agency's Clear-Cutting Assumptions

Forest Industries Criticize Swedish Agency's Clear-Cutting Assumptions

Fewer Suicides in Sweden Last Year, First Decline Since 2020

Fewer Suicides in Sweden Last Year, First Decline Since 2020

Orbán Criticizes Swedish Government as Unfriendly to Hungary

Orbán Criticizes Swedish Government as Unfriendly to Hungary

Foreign Minister Defends Controversial Statement on Protesters

Foreign Minister Defends Controversial Statement on Protesters

Prisoner Suspected of Crime After Borås Detention Center Escape

Prisoner Suspected of Crime After Borås Detention Center Escape

Moderate Party Proposes Sweden Contract for New Immigrants

Moderate Party Proposes Sweden Contract for New Immigrants

Three Arrested in Karlstad Murder Investigation

Three Arrested in Karlstad Murder Investigation

Large Medieval Silver Treasure Discovered Near Stockholm

Large Medieval Silver Treasure Discovered Near Stockholm

Two Men from Activist Club Sweden Sentenced for Aggravated Assault

Two Men from Activist Club Sweden Sentenced for Aggravated Assault

Motorcyclist Dies After Collision in Tanum

Motorcyclist Dies After Collision in Tanum

Trelleborg Emergency Map Shows Incorrect Shelter Locations

Trelleborg Emergency Map Shows Incorrect Shelter Locations

Sweden Increases Funding for Prison Expansion in State Budget

Sweden Increases Funding for Prison Expansion in State Budget