Skip to main content

Estonia's traffic volume tumbles by 33%

Road traffic volumes in Estonia have fallen by a third as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Maanteeamet, the state road administration.
By David Arminas April 15, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Road traffic in Estonia is down by a third (© Natalia Rumyantseva | Dreamstime.com)

However, the volume of trucks has changed very little, noted a report by ERR News, the English-language online service of Estonian Public Broadcasting. 

There was a drop of only around 2% based on data collected between March 6, after the first coronavirus cases had been detected but before the government declared an emergency situation, and March 27.

The decline mainly results from a decline in passenger vehicle traffic. Truck transport is required for delivering essential goods and services and so drivers are exempt from staying away from work.

The administration has 98 fixed counting points nationwide.

In the neighbouring Baltic state of Latvia, traffic on major highways fell by 19% in the weeks after the government declared a state of emergency.
 

Related Content

  • Deadlines approach for Europe’s automatic crash alert system
    September 15, 2016
    The EU-co-funded I_ HeERO (Infrastructure_ Harmonised eCall European Pilot) project is working to ensure the readiness of national networks of call centres - known as public safety answering posts (PSAPs) - to deal with automated crash alerts arriving via the continent-wide 112 emergency phone number. Following on from its HeERO and HeERO2 pre-deployment predecessors, which enjoyed €16m (US$17.76m) in EU funding, the new initiative runs from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. It has €30.9 million (US$34.
  • ANPR - cost-efficient traffic management, enforcement and more
    January 23, 2012
    Geoff Collins of Vysionics Intelligent Traffic Solutions talks about the near-term prospects of ANPR. The continued absence of a champion for its cause is preventing digital enforcement technology from delivering the true levels of cost-effectiveness of which it is capable, according to Geoff Collins, sales and marketing director of ANPR specialist Vysionics Intelligent Traffic Solutions.
  • MIT researchers hack into traffic lights
    August 22, 2014
    With permission from a local road agency, researchers in from the University of Michigan hacked into nearly 100 wirelessly networked traffic lights, highlighting security issues that they say are likely to pervade networked traffic infrastructure around the country. More than 40 states currently use such systems to keep traffic flowing as efficiently as possible, helping to reduce emissions and delays. The team, led by University of Michigan computer scientist J. Alex Halderman, found three major weaknes
  • Authorities switch on to all electric buses as costs tumble
    January 9, 2018
    Alan Dron looks at changes in bus propulsion as cities look to improve air quality and seek to reduce maintenance costs. Despite the ending of various incentives to adopt alternative fuels, the introduction of electric buses by US transit authorities is picking up speed as performance improves, costs drop and air quality considerations become increasingly significant. More US bus manufacturers are introducing zero-emission models and some recent contracts will see many more passengers getting their first