In the first half of the year, there is a sharp increase in the number of road fatalities - Trygg Trafikk fears that the dangerous trend will continue this summer.
In the summer months of June, July and August, there is an increase in serious road accidents on Norwegian roads. Earlier calculations show that 50 percent more people die in the summer than in the rest of the year. Therefore, according to Trygg Trafikk, there are reasons for concern.
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“Summer is the peak of the country's major road accident season, which is an additional cause for concern when the beginning of summer was as tragic as it is now. In May alone, 21 people died and we have to go back to 2008 to find a more tragic May, says Cecilie Bryner, Communications Manager at Trygg Trafikk.
Twice as many people died
So far this year, 63 people have lost their lives in traffic, compared to 31 after the first half of last year.
- We cannot give a simple explanation as to why we had so many fatalities this spring, but we can conclude that this year the number of fatalities has doubled compared to last year. Now every road user has to take appropriate precautions. As Bryner says, it is well documented that high speed, intoxication and inattention are the most common causes of road fatalities.
Lots of tourists on the roads. A sharp increase in the number of road fatalities
Heavy traffic is expected this summer - both Norwegian and foreign tourists on vacation.
- Recent years have been characterized by restrictions and limitations in transport related to the pandemic. Now that everything has opened up, we see an increase in traffic on the roads. This may have contributed to an increase in the number of serious accidents. With no entry restrictions, we have to expect a lot of tourists on roads that we haven't had in recent years, says Cecilie Bryner.
Deaths have fallen in the last 20 years
Norway has seen a marked decline in numbers road accident fatalities over the last 20 years. It is the country with the lowest number road accident fatalities in terms of population.
- We have managed to significantly reduce the number of road fatalities in recent years and it is very important that we do not see a sustained decline in this work. Road accidents are a serious social problem with huge consequences for everyone involved in an accident and for their loved ones. We cannot accept death in traffic. As a society, we are totally dependent on each of us taking it seriously. We have to say this many times; Drive carefully, slow down, watch out - and put your phone in car mode Cecilie Bryner concludes.
Source: tryggtrafikk
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