– That’s enough, yes! But I think it’s good, says Søgni Wiik. news has just asked her what she thinks about the new fine rates that apply from today. Among other things, it will now cost motorists NOK 9,700 to be caught with a hand-held mobile phone. (See an overview of the new rates further down in the case) Wiik drives a lot in his job. She keeps seeing people who can’t put down their mobile phones. – I know several people who send snapchats while driving. I answer every time that they should stop doing it, she says. Søgni Wiik knows several people who use mobile phones behind the wheel Photo: Ole Kristian Svalheim / news Wants the fine to sting It’s only been a year since the last time the fine rate for mobile use increased sharply. At the time, even the police said they refused to issue fines. Now it increases even more. – When it comes to fines, it is very easy to avoid. You just have to follow the traffic rules, says police officer Aleksander Naley in the Sør-West police district. Nevertheless, he does not hide the fact that it stings a little to be the one to write out the high fines for motorists. – It’s not nice for us either. I urge people out there to buckle up and follow the rules, so we don’t have to issue these fines, says Naley. Police officer at the traffic and maritime section in the South-West police district, Aleksander Naley. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news He still believes that it is natural that breaking the traffic rules will be more expensive, considering the accident statistics for last year which showed 118 people killed in traffic. – Make people understand the seriousness Christoffer Solstad Steen, press manager at Trygg Trafikk, believes the high sum of the fines can help make people understand the seriousness of mobile phone use behind the wheel. – In one in three fatal accidents in Norway, inattention is a contributing factor. Using the telephone can lead to serious accidents and the fine rate is a means of making people understand the seriousness. Christoffer Solstad Steen, press manager at Trygg Trafikk, recommends putting your mobile phone in car mode while driving. Photo: Trygg Trafikk Steen says that if you use your phone in traffic, you are simply driving blind. He believes that it is too easy to reach for the mobile phone, even when driving. – You sit with your mobile phone in your hand all the time. It is very difficult to free yourself from it, not least when you get various notifications that ping you in the cabin and torment you when you drive. Then we recommend putting your mobile in car mode so that you are not disturbed while driving, says Steen.
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