Government proposes parking concessions for home care workers

The Government proposes that the Road Traffic Act be amended in order to make parking easier for home carers and care workers who provide similar visiting care. Amendments are proposed to the new Road Traffic Act, which will enter into force on 1 June 2020.

The matter is based on a parliamentary statement issued in connection with the adoption of the Road Traffic Act. Parliament called for legislative amendments to be drafted in order to facilitate the parking for home carers.

"Care workers provide high-quality services to homes. The legislative amendment will improve the efficiency of providing home care services. Once parking becomes easier, there will be more time for care work," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.

It is proposed that home care workers would not have to observe some of the parking restrictions in place in Mainland Finland. Parking opportunities would be improved mainly in the same way as the law currently provides for persons with disabilities.  

The new regulation would allow unlimited and free parking in parking spaces on streets maintained by local authorities. In addition, home carers could park on the streets where parking is prohibited by the road sign "No parking" (C38) or "No parking zone" (C39). In residential areas marked with a road sign, the home carers' parking permit would also allow parking outside the marked parking spaces.

Regardless of the "Driving in service purposes allowed" (H25) prohibition sign, parking permit holders could drive a vehicle into the prohibited area and park the vehicle there.

However, a home carer's parking permit would not entitle to park off-street in a courtyard of a residential property.

In future, home carers would need a parking permit issued by the municipality, either to the individual workers or to the company, association or public body offering the care for the purposes of providing the statutory healthcare and social welfare services.

What next?

A referral debate on the government proposal submitted to Parliament will be conducted in a Parliament plenary session. Information on the date of the session will be available on the Parliament website (plenary sessions).

After the referral debate, the proposal will be sent to a Parliamentary Committee. The Committee will prepare a report on the matter, after which the debate will continue in the plenary session.

The new Road Traffic Act has been adopted and will enter into force on 1 June 2020. The proposed amendments are expected to enter into force at the same time.

Inquiries:

Elina Immonen, Director of Safety and Security Unit, tel. +358 50 303 2686

Kimmo Kiiski, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 50 539 5346