Worst March in four years – NRK Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio

– It is a much too high, and not least frightening figure.

That’s what Tor Egil Syvertsen says. He is a special adviser in Trygg Trafikk Vestfold and Telemark.

– We have had a formidable increase in the first three months of the year. This is not a development we envisioned or wanted.

On Sunday 24 March, a boy in his teens lost his life in a traffic accident just outside the center of Kragerø.

The day before, a young man from Vinje died, after the car he was in collided at the Sannerholt tunnel on national highway 36 in Nome.

It is difficult to point out the reasons why the number of traffic fatalities is much higher than in the first quarter of last year, according to Trygg Trafikk.

– The trend is persistent. We had an increase in the number of accidents overall last year, after many years of positive development and a decrease in the number of fatalities and serious injuries. That arrow has started to point the wrong way. So far this year, this suggests that it will unfortunately continue, says Syvertsen.

The largest increase among fatalities is in the group between 45 and 65 years of age.

Around half of those killed so far this year were in this age group.

– It hurts me a lot

90 percent of fatal accidents are due to human error.

We have to start with our attitudes in order to reduce these numbers, says specialist officer for traffic safety in the South-East police district, Henning Ødegård Johansen.

– We have to take it more calmly, and start thinking about how we drive.

– This is a frighteningly high number, and it hurts me very much.

He believes that the police, the National Roads Administration and everyone else involved in road safety cannot bring down the grim statistics alone.

– We cannot do this without the road users. The zero vision also says something about that.

Fears high accident rates among two-wheelers

Several have already died on motorbikes and electric scooters this year.

And with spring on the way, many people are preparing bicycles, scooters and motorcycles.

Trygg Trafikk fears that the number of accidents will also increase here.

– But of course we hope not. The media is concerned with this, and we can hope that people get the statistics and are vigilant, says Syvertsen.

It is a difficult period when the two-wheelers come out, he adds.

– There is still a lot of gravel after winter’s littering, which is challenging for this traffic group. I hope people follow along, and are aware of the risks involved in traveling on that type of vehicle.