On 1 February, the rates for traffic fines increased by as much as 30 per cent. Now, for example, it costs you NOK 9,700 if you are caught using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Although the increase was strongly criticized, the government believed that higher fines would have a preventive effect. – We know that speed kills and that economic incentives often work, State Secretary Geir Indrefjord (Sp) in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness told news in February. Now, recent figures from the Emergency Police (UP) show that close to 12 per cent fewer fines have been issued in the last three months, compared to the same period this year. Indrefjord is well satisfied with these figures. Especially when it comes to fines issued for hand-held mobile phones, where the decrease is 43 per cent: – If the decrease in fines means that fewer people now use hand-held mobile phones in cars, then this will lead to fewer people being killed and injured in traffic in Norway, says the State Secretary . Will not conclude too soon Chief of the Emergency Police (UP), Knut Smedsrud, believes it is too early to say for sure what the decline may mean and whether this is the start of a lasting development. But he can assure both State Secretary Indrefjord and others of one thing: – Fewer and fewer people use hand-held mobile phones while driving, and it is a very positive development that we have seen over several years now. There was a lot of attention when the increased fine rates were introduced, and it will also have a preventive effect, says Smedsrud. – Based on the figures, it may seem that people have become better at following the traffic rules, because fewer people have been fined. Is it that simple? – No I do not think so. There are various factors that come into play, such as the number of checks we carry out and whether we have prioritized other matters. Knut Smedsrud is head of the Emergency Police. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news Travel weekend with many fines But it is unlikely that UP will be unemployed in the near future. Traffic officer Aleksander Naley in the South-West police district recently had a busy weekend on duty. – Me and a colleague issued 80 fines and confiscated five driving licences. So there is still a lot to get to grips with. We are not completely satisfied yet, he says. Naley says people react in different ways when they receive a fine, but that most people take it in stride. – The fines are terribly expensive, but we still have a standing offer that following the traffic rules is free. UP chief Smedsrud agrees with Naley that traffic controls will not exactly become redundant anytime soon. – We have a lot of work to do out there. We see that more people comply with the speed limits, but still drive 40 percent too fast. So there is a lot of potential there.
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Fewer people receive traffic fines after a sharp increase in rates – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
