In the Brennpunkt documentary “Collision”, former Norwegian Road Administration employee Helge Andersen settles a settlement with the National Road Administration. He believes that the way brakes on truck trains are checked is flawed. On Norwegian roads, heavy truck trains run which in certain situations can be life-threatening, Andersen believes. “It was about time”, thought Gunnar Nordvik of the Transport and Logistics Association when he saw the documentary on Wednesday. Now he hopes that more people will gather to demand clear answers from the Norwegian Road Administration about brake control. – I think there is arrogance in the answers to the Norwegian Road Administration, which is supported by the fact that this has been going on for 20 years, says Nordvik. Concerned about the legal security of the drivers Nordvik has been in the transport industry since the 1980s, and is happy that the problem is being highlighted. “Are the brakes safe after checking?”. The question has been left hanging in the air. Nordvik does not want to stand behind the Norwegian Public Roads Administration or Helge Andersen. The association does not have the competence to assess who is entitled. – First and foremost, we are very concerned about the safety and legal certainty of our drivers, says Nordvik. The brake check is mainly carried out on roller testers. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Do the drivers take a chance by getting behind the wheel? Whose responsibility is it if the lorry overbrakes and the car’s trailer veers into the opposite lane? – We are also reacting to the repeated statements from the Swedish Road Administration’s representative in the Brennpunkt documentary, where the responsibility is tried to be placed on the drivers. When the National Roads Administration, with its equipment for the last 20 years, is unable to measure correct brake values, how are drivers supposed to be able to find out? The Norwegian Road Administration emphasizes that every driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is in legal condition. See further answers further down in the article. The Transport and Logistics Association itself asked for an explanation from the Ministry of Transport in 2019, but was none the wiser by the answer they received after several months of waiting and nagging. – It’s urgent. New wagon trains are now running on Norwegian roads that are longer and heavier than before. The roads have not gotten better or less slippery. We believe it is urgent to get clear answers and a better system, says Nordvik. Believes that the current method catches serious errors, Kjetil Wigdel, department director for outdoor inspection in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, responded on behalf of the agency in the Brennpunkt documentary. He believes that the current control method works well to detect serious brake faults on trailers or lorries, and measures correct brake values. Wigdel points out that professional circles internationally and the industry organizations in Norway support the current control regime, and that there is broad professional agreement that the current method is the best. International regulations and European standards form the basis of the control method, he believes. Wigdel makes no secret of the fact that there has been debate and professional disagreement about today’s brake control. – Over the past 20 years, there has been a rapid development of both vehicles, measuring equipment and regulations. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has worked, both nationally and internationally, to improve the last two points. As a result, there are now stricter technical requirements for the measuring equipment than there were before, says Wigdel. – In 2014, accredited calibration of brake testers was introduced. We have also introduced requirements for training and personal approval of everyone who will carry out EU checks. Overall, this has led to a clean-up in the industry and less chance of errors when carrying out brake tests at traffic controls and at EU controls. The industry has gone through a clean-up, and today there is less chance of errors when carrying out brake tests than before, according to Kjetil Wigdel in the Norwegian Road Administration. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news The department director emphasizes that the driver is always responsible for ensuring that the towing vehicle and trailer are connected correctly. In all newer cars, where electronic braking systems (EBS) are standard, there are alarm systems and warning lights that tell if there is something wrong with the braking systems, according to Wigdel. – Interconnection between car and trailer is also an important topic in professional driver education. A tow truck can change trailers several times a day – in which case it is always the driver’s responsibility to ensure that this is done correctly. Every driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle he or she drives is in proper condition. It is stated in the Road Traffic Act, says the Norwegian Road Administration’s department director. Lorry owners no stranger to further control Geir A. Mo, managing director of the Norwegian Lorry Owners Association (NLF), states that he has full confidence that the Swedish Road Administration – both in terms of methods, overview and calibration of equipment. – Failed tests will have major financial consequences, and we have not received feedback from the member companies that there has been a major problem with failed tests leading to either driving bans on functioning cars or the other way around in the past, says Mo. Geir A. Mo of the Norwegian Lorry Association questions whether more can be done in the current control system for brakes. Photo: Martin Hall Larsen / news At the same time, Mo recognizes that current control methods have a certain margin of error. – If there are faults on cars that are obviously in good condition, it should be possible to have extra checks with new equipment before deciding whether the brakes are approved or not, says the NLF director and continues: – A road safety measure can also be a better set of regulations on public control and calibration of test equipment, in the same way as with control of, for example, scales and fuel pumps.
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Fires against the Road Administration after Brennpunkt documentary – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
