Image: Ismo Pekkarinen / AOP

Finland held a special 24-hour speed enforcement operation Thursday as part of a European Traffic Police Network campaign. Some 4,800 drivers were caught out during that period for not observing speed limits.

The number of offenders in 2016 was 400 greater than in last year’s campaign, but this year’s total still came in below the police’s projected estimate of 5,000 speeders.

The police credit its expanded network of automated traffic monitors, also known as one-legged policemen.

“That 4,800 motorists were detected speeding shows that a clear need remains for monitoring speed limit compliance. We even informed the public far and wide about the campaign in advance – and it still didn’t stop all of the lead foots,” said Kari Onninen, Chief Superintendent of the National Police Board.

Every police unit in Finland participated in the nationwide campaign, which focused on the most critical roadways in the country.

The campaign was carried out simultaneously in 20 European countries, after the ‘Speed Marathon’ concept was devised two years ago in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.