Statement: Traficom's policies will significantly increase costs in South Karelia - widespread opposition to the changes in the region

The South Karelia Association, the South Karelia Education Joint Municipal Authority, the cities of Lappeenranta and Imatra, and the municipalities of Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti and Parikkala strongly oppose the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom's plan to reduce the number of places where driving licence exams can be taken.

Traficom is opened a tender for the production of tasks related to driver's examination and licensing services. As a result of the tender, driving tests could no longer be taken in Imatra. Handling of other matters related to driving licenses would also be moved out of the city.

The Regional Council of South Karelia, the Joint Municipal Education Authority and the municipalities in the region are demanding that the competition be suspended.

The change would make it more difficult for educational institutions to operate

If implemented, the changes planned by Traficom would have a detrimental effect on driving schools and graduates.

The operation of educational institutions in the area would be hampered. In Imatra, logistics training is provided in the city and the Border and Coast Guard School is located in the city.

Any savings that the tender will bring to the state will be passed on to the rest of society many times over. For example, the South Karelia Education Association estimates that the changes will cause it to incur an additional annual cost of approximately 50,000 euros in increased personnel and fuel costs.

Declining driving licenses could, at worst, affect the export industry

The Regional Council of South Karelia, the Joint Municipal Education Authority and the municipalities in the region consider it harmful and strange that Traficom is preventing the provision of services in Imatra, for example, through the tender, even though the operator selected through the tender would like to provide the service in the locality.

—Imatra meets all the criteria of the Driving Licence Directive in terms of its traffic environment, Mayor of Imatra Matias Hilden recalls.

In the worst case, the changes would weaken people's willingness to take driving tests, which could indirectly have a significant negative impact, especially on the logistics of the region's export industry.

—We demand that Traficom suspend the tender and prepare the matter again so that it will continue to be possible to organize services where they are needed. The Finnish economy will not be saved by partially optimized savings, the price tag of which for the rest of society is many times higher, the regional director Satu Sikanen says.

For more information:

Mayor Matias Hilden, City of Imatra, matias.hildenimatra.fi (matias[dot]hilden[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 2200

Director Antti Lehmusvaara, South Karelia Municipal Education Association, antti.lehmusvaaraedusampo.fi (antti[dot]lehmusvaara[at]edusampo[dot]fi), tel. 040 5014 244

Regional Director Satu Sikanen. Regional Council of South Karelia, fairy tale. pigekarjala.fi (satu[dot]sikanen[at]ekarjala[dot]fi), TWO TWO WHEN TWO