21 people died in traffic in May. That is ten times as many as in May last year. Only during the Whitsun weekend, three new people have died in traffic. On Friday, two women died after a traffic accident in Ålesund, and a woman died after a traffic accident in Hole municipality in Buskerud. Gro Ranes, director of traffic safety at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, is concerned. – These are dramatically high numbers. We are very worried if this continues towards the summer. Ranes says that they do not know what is the reason why the number of fatal accidents has increased, and they have not been able to investigate the latest fatal accidents properly. One of their hypotheses is that the increase is related to the fact that there is more traffic this year. Compared with traffic in the same period last year, traffic has increased by 10 percent this year. But this increase alone can not explain the big change, says Ranes. Will see if people drive faster The Norwegian Public Roads Administration now wants to investigate whether increased speed may be the reason why the number of fatal accidents is rising again. From previous analyzes, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration knows that excessive speed is a contributing factor in 35 per cent of previous fatal accidents in Norway. – When we know about the connection between speed and serious accidents, it is interesting to find out more. An equally large factor is reduced attention in traffic. After that comes intoxication and conditions with the road. Ranes explains that they have a hypothesis that the relief after the pandemic may also be a factor. – We have stopped being afraid of the corona, maybe it affects how we behave in traffic. The day does not know yet. The thought stems from how external threats and insecurity in society affect us mentally. Then we will generally behave more carefully, says Ranes. For example, the number of traffic accidents in several countries declined during the financial crisis in 2008. Will look at distractions Communications Manager in Trygg Trafikk, Cecilie Bryner, says it is difficult to say what is the cause behind the increase in accidents lately. – It is too early to draw any conclusions, says Bryner. The accidents must first be investigated and then the knowledge must be seen in a system, she says. What they still know is that over 70 percent of the accidents in the last two months are either accidents where only one car is involved or where two cars collide. These are accidents that are often due to poor attention or too high a speed, Bryner says. – One of our hypotheses is that new technology in the car and other distractions lead to more people being less aware of traffic, says Bryner. She says one can cover a fairly long distance by turning her gaze away from the road for two seconds. That people think less risk now than during the pandemic is difficult to answer. At the same time, we know that there are more accidents in the summer, Bryner says. – We know that dry asphalt makes people drive faster. That is, one relaxes more when conditions are calculated to be light, and thus is less aware of the risks. Advice to road users A quarter of a year, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration delivers an in-depth analysis of traffic the year before. The previous report is for the year 2020. The report states that most fatal accidents are accidents where two cars meet each other. After that come downhill accidents. Most fatal accidents occurred in the counties of Viken and Innlandet. It was least in Agder. – To have your head, thoughts and eyes with you out in the traffic, and not do other things. Ranes summarizes what can prevent accidents in four points: Adjust the speed according to the speed limit Hugsa seat belt Do not drive with intoxication Be aware of the road and traffic Of the 21 fatal accidents in May this year, 18 were men. 13 of them were aged 55 years or older. – This is a group of road users who generally have a lot of driving experience, so it is disturbing that so many in this group die in traffic, says Bryner in Trygg Trafikk. From her, the advice to all road users is clear: – Sharpen your senses, be present and reduce stress.
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– Maybe people are less preoccupied with risk – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
