Four in ten motorists in Finland say they have driven too fast for the conditions at least once during the past year, according to a survey by the Finnish Road Safety Council, Liikenneturva.
Nearly one in three said they had done so several times.
According to Liikenneturva, drivers too often choose their speed based on habit rather than the prevailing road and weather conditions. On slippery roads, in darkness or when visibility is poor, a safe speed may be well below the posted limit.
“Too many drivers choose their speed out of habit rather than according to the conditions. Excessive speed is only noticed when grip is lost,” Liikenneturva planner Tomi Niemi said in a statement.
By that point, he said, it may already be too late to react.
The survey also found that four in five Finns disapprove of driving too fast for the conditions even when the driver remains within the legal speed limit.
The speed limit is not a target
Most motorists who responded to the survey said they had exceeded the speed limit during the past year.
Only 15 percent said they had not driven above the speed limit on main roads at all, while two in three reported having exceeded it by a significant margin.
According to Niemi, speeding can become an established habit, particularly on familiar routes. The behaviour becomes especially dangerous if the driver fails to slow down when conditions deteriorate.
Liikenneturva also reminds drivers to increase the distance to the vehicle ahead in poor conditions. Wet or icy roads increase braking distances, while snow and sleet reduce visibility and leave drivers needing more time to react.
“When conditions are good, you can better see what is happening ahead and have more time to anticipate situations,” Liikenneturva training instructor Sami Kivilä said.
The survey was carried out by Verian in December 2025. A total of 1,060 people responded, 72 percent of whom were motorists.