risteyskohde

Risteyskohde is a Finnish term used in road safety planning to denote an intersection or crossing point that has elevated risk or is prioritized for safety interventions. The concept covers the physical intersection and the surrounding environment affecting safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Identification and use: Risteyskohteet are identified through data-driven risk assessment. Key indicators include injury crashes at the site, crash frequency relative to traffic exposure, conflicts between movements, pedestrian and cyclist exposure, travel speeds, sight distance, and visibility constraints. The designation helps authorities allocate resources to sites with the greatest safety potential.

Purpose and approach: The aim is to reduce crashes and injuries by applying a mix of engineering, enforcement, and education measures. Interventions are chosen based on local conditions and may be part of broader safety programs.

Common measures: Engineering solutions include improving sightlines, eliminating conflict points, and sometimes replacing with roundabouts or signals. Other measures are speed management, enhanced crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, better signage, and lighting. Enforcement and education may accompany design changes.

Monitoring: After an intervention, the site is monitored to assess effectiveness and inform future decisions. The concept is widely used in Finnish road safety planning and aligns with international practices for identifying high-risk intersections.