Probably due to a lack of chains, a foreign lorry driver chose to tie a load strap around one wheel of the car. – These wagon trains are a nuisance for the serious transport industry which is about to disappear, says Tarjei Haugo Torgersen. – A serious problem The experienced lorry driver from Høydalsmo in Telemark has extensive experience with transport, operation and maintenance of the road network. Torgersen now works for Mesta, but stresses that he speaks to news as a private person. – This is a serious problem that must be put on the agenda, states Torgersen and refers to the photos he took along the winter roads in Telemark on Monday. – The problem is the motorists, not the weather. Marketing director Kjell Olafsrud of the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association completely agrees. However, he does not hesitate to also give the Norwegian Road Administration the smooth surface in the wake of Monday’s snow chaos. Marketing director Kjell Olafsrud at the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association. Photo: Stein Inge Stølen / NLF – It is far from new that foreign, but also Norwegian-registered, heavier vehicles are not adequately shod for winter driving. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration should be fully aware of this, but nevertheless they do not prioritize checking everyone who sets out on the road. – The contractors were not ready According to Olafsrud, the heavy snowfall came on the night of Monday and throughout the day, like Christmas Eve, on far more people than the fabled old lady. – I have learned that several small and medium-sized contractors who drive on behalf of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration had not even installed plowshares, plows and milling machines on all the vehicles on Monday morning. The marketing director clarifies that he does not want the contractors to die. Olafsrud believes the Norwegian Road Administration is mainly responsible for Monday’s road accidents. – The weather forecast has been crystal clear. The road service people should also have caught on to it and sent out their contractors to salt the most important roads before the snowfall came. Department director Kjetil Wigdel in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration tells news that they increase checks every time they receive a warning about difficult driving conditions and snowy weather. They did that now too. – Our challenge is that we have limited the number of people to carry out inspections. But the biggest problem is that it gets full very quickly at our checkpoints when we weed out vehicles. Action required – Couldn’t you have had checks on Sunday? – We could do it and we have controls mostly throughout the week. But it’s a challenge to hold back vehicles when they’re OK, and then they’re shod according to the conditions, Wigdel replies. It is not good enough for NLF top Olafsrud. – This happens year after year. It amazes me that measures are not taken to prevent vehicles that are not protected against Norwegian winter weather from still being allowed to use the roads. – How do you think these checks should be carried out? – We in NLF have repeatedly requested that foreign lorry trains be checked when they roll ashore at ferry berths, for example in Larvik and Kristiansand. Likewise, there should be control at the border crossings to land, for example at Svinesund, says Kjell Olafsrud. He emphasizes that controls should also be carried out on Norwegian heavier vehicles.
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Foreign truck trains with horror tires on Norwegian winter roads – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
