– It actually shocks me, says Trine Nielsen. It was Saturday morning that she and her daughter were to drive from Nannestad to Sarpsborg with their horse. Due to unusually low temperatures, they had agreed with the national team coach that they would be allowed to train in her isolated riding stables at the weekend. – As it was mildly cold, I test drove the car in an equally low temperature on Friday. Then there was no problem with him, says Nielsen, who is originally from Tromsø. But after a few kilometers on Saturday, the first warning light started to light up in the car. Nielsen planned to stop at the gas station at Gardermoen to check what the problem could be, but she didn’t get that far. Trine Nielsen and her daughter had to wait for around 25 minutes in the cold car. Photo: Private – Before that, all warning lights came on. There was a rumble in the car and it died out, says Nielsen. She didn’t even manage to drive the car to the side before he stopped – It was on the E16 and quite a lot of traffic. Then the panic spread a little, says Nielsen. Had to get police help. She put her hazard lights on, asked her daughter to call the stables to get someone to pick up the horse, and she herself called NAF to get roadside assistance. There was a queue on the line, and Nielsen realized it could take a long time before they got help. – I felt that I panicked more and more. Then I told my daughter that she must call the police and say that I had to have assistance to direct the traffic if I were to get the horse out. It was minus 34 degrees, so it could be dangerous, she says. The police were to send a patrol. In the meantime, they sat in the car and waited together with the horse and two dogs. – If I had got out of the car, I would have lost what little warmth I had, says Nielsen. In this car, Trine Nielsen, her daughter, a horse and two dogs waited for help. Photo: private It quickly got cold in the car, and the dogs were wrapped in wool blankets while they waited for the police and roadside assistance. At the same time, Nielsen was surprised that no one stopped to offer them help on the busy road. – Everyone knew how cold it was and how dangerous it could be. It actually shocks me, but I don’t know if it’s a bit like how Austrians are. That you just think that people have a mobile phone and it will surely work out, she says. – Offer help Nielsen reckons they waited for around 25 minutes before the police arrived. Then they and the dogs were allowed to sit in the police car to warm up while they waited for the car to be towed. Nielsen and her daughter were allowed to warm up in the police car while they waited for the car to be towed. Photo: Privat It went well this time, but Nielsen has a clear encouragement for fellow road users. – Stop and ask if everything is going well and if there is anything you can help with. Just getting a car to warm up in will help. We must not forget that human nature and be of help to others, even if it is someone we do not know. One must not forget to care, she says. Do you stop if you see a car with flashing lights on the road? No, I assume they have called for help I drive past slowly to see if they are signaling that they need help I always stop and ask, for safety’s sake Show result Jan Harry Svendsen is a consultant at NAF. He thinks it varies how good people are at stopping if they see a car with hazard lights on the road. – If you see someone standing by the side of the road with their hazard lights on, it’s a good idea to stop. Then it is completely obvious that there is someone who needs help. If they have arranged for help, then you can drive on, he says. Svendsen points out that it is important to stop in a place that is safe both for yourself and other traffic, so that you do not create traffic-dangerous situations. Jan Harry Svendsen, adviser at NAF, believes that everyone should stop and offer help if they see a car with hazard lights. Photo: Arne Fosland / news It doesn’t take long before it gets critically cold in a car with the engine stopped at temperatures that have been seen over large parts of the country in the last week. – What I recommend on days that are as cold as now, and actually always in winter, is to bring warm clothes, good shoes, a hat, mittens and a scarf. So you are always prepared if something happens. It is not a good idea to drive with small shoes and thin clothes now. If something happens, it will quickly develop into a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous situation, says Svendsen. He also advises having a wool blanket in the car that you can wrap around livestock that is with you. – Bring a blanket, food and something warm and drink, so you are a little more prepared if something should happen, Svendsen encourages.
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Trine Nielsen from Tromsø was stopped in 34 minus, but no one stopped to help – news Troms and Finnmark
