In 2025, 65 people were injured and five died while crossing the road at unregulated pedestrian crossings.
Unfortunately, one fatal accident involving a pedestrian has already occurred at the beginning of 2026. The current weather is snowy and brings blizzards, roadside snow banks created by snowfall and ploughing roads limit visibility and reduce the possibility of noticing each other in time. The Transport Administration reminds drivers that the risk can increase rapidly in winter conditions, particularly at unregulated crossings – vehicles cannot stop immediately on slippery roads and pedestrians may unexpectedly step onto the road from behind snow banks.
‘In wintry road conditions, taking braking distance and visibility into consideration is key. When driving at 50 km/h in dry conditions, a driver’s reaction distance is approximately 14 metres, the braking distance is also approximately 14 metres, and the stopping distance a total of 28 metres. In wintry conditions, however, the stopping distance can increase to nearly 62 metres. This can mean the difference between life and death,’ said Maria Pashkevich, head of the Road Safety Department at the Transport Administration. ‘For pedestrians, this means that before crossing the road, they should always stop for a moment, look both ways, and make sure that the vehicle has stopped or is far enough away. For drivers, it means that when approaching a pedestrian crossing, they must choose a speed at which they can stop safely if necessary.’
The Transport Administration emphasises that visibility at many unregulated crossings is obscured by snow banks created by snowfall and ploughing roads. Therefore, it is particularly important for pedestrians to make sure that drivers have noticed them and will give way. Drivers are asked to bear in mind that pedestrians may step onto the road from behind snow banks unexpectedly. Vigilance is particularly important near schools and kindergartens, as children are difficult to spot behind snow banks due to their small stature.
The 2025 traffic behaviour survey of the Transport Administration shows that drivers gave way to pedestrians at unregulated crossings in an average of 70% of cases, meaning that in 30% of cases, they did not do so. According to the survey, 89% of pedestrians obey red traffic lights, while 11% do not obey them at all.
The Transport Administration also reminds the importance of reflectors at this time of year: according to the 2025 survey, 64% of adults always wear reflectors in the dark (plus 14% quite often), but 9% of adults never wear them. In wintry conditions, when visibility is already impaired, reflectors and, if possible, clothing with reflective strips help drivers to spot pedestrians earlier.
Further information can be found on the traffic education page of the Transport Administration: https://transpordiamet.ee/soidukid-ja-maanteeliiklus/liiklusohutus/ohutu-liiklemise-reeglid
