Norway reports decline in traffic fatalities with 84 deaths so far in 2023

So far this year, 84 individuals have lost their lives in traffic accidents, a decline from 108 fatalities reported at the same time last year. Preliminary statistics from Norway’s National Road Administration reveal these figures.

Among the victims, 13 young people aged between 16 and 24 have died on the roads, with nine of those fatalities occurring on motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles. Notably, four of the deceased were 16-year-olds riding light motorcycles, and another four lost their lives in car accidents. Guro Ranes, the director for traffic safety at the Road Administration, expressed optimism about the reduction in young traffic deaths but also raised concerns about the types of vehicles involved in these fatalities, which often lack sufficient protection for drivers and passengers during accidents.

Last year, from January to November, there were 20 young fatalities, with a significant contributor being the absence of incidents involving multiple young casualties this year, unlike in 2022, where six such accidents occurred.

Akershus has seen the highest number of traffic-related deaths in 2023, with 12 individuals lost, doubling the fatalities from the previous year. In contrast, Vestland and Innlandet have reported favorable trends. Vestland has had four deaths compared to 14 at the same time last year, while Innlandet has seen fatalities halved, with nine reported this year compared to 18 in 2022. In Buskerud, the tally indicates eight deaths last year, and seven so far this year.

Norway remains the safest country in Europe for road users, maintaining the lowest rate of deaths per million residents for nine consecutive years. As the holiday season approaches, Ranes urges drivers to prioritize safety by observing speed limits, driving responsibly, wearing seatbelts, and abstaining from alcohol, to ensure a safe festive period.