Last Friday, Sofie Stokland finished school and was on her way to the shop in her car.
She has just had a Russian baptism and wears her blue Russian costume all the time. At an intersection, she stopped for a car to which she was obliged to give way.
It saw two young girls standing at the crossing and waiting with their bikes.
– Then they came riding up next to me by the driver’s door and asked if they could get a Russian card. Instead of telling them it wasn’t okay, I just drove on so that I wouldn’t contribute to a dangerous situation.
Stokland says that it was a disgusting experience as a driver, and that she was afraid that they would be hit. That’s why she posted a post on Facebook to warn.
– Parents must be aware that it can happen, that the children can invent such things. It’s quite a traffic hazard, so I told them to talk to their kids and tell them where the boundaries are. It was disgusting.
Sofie where the dangerous situation arose in the center of Bodø. She likes children asking her for a Russian card, but not when she’s driving.
Photo: Thomas Fredrik Kristensen / NRK
Praise from parents
She remembers that she herself thinks it was a great honor to receive a Russian card from young people when she herself was little.
– I think it’s very nice that wherever I go, there are children asking for cards. I appreciate it, as it was something I did myself when I was little. I looked up to the Russian and now I’m the person they look up to.
Stokland says that she has received a lot of good feedback after she spoke about what happened.
– There are many who have wished me a nice Russian celebration and say that it is good that I make people aware of it. I hope parents take it with them further, and that worse things don’t happen in similar situations.
The Facebook post that Sofie posted after the experience in Bodø.
Photo: Screenshot
She also receives praise from Kari Vassbotn in Trygg Trafikk.
– I want to praise her, who did everything right and removed herself from the situation. In addition to the fact that she did not expose the children to danger. It was good work.
She says that it is important that the Russians are aware of what their presence does to children.
Either if they drive past or stop in an area with many children, or if they just stay on the other side of a busy road.
– It is great that the Russians are also aware of this. Young children do not have the same impulse control as adults. They can easily forget to look after themselves if they see a Russian, and they want a Russian card. Parents should take responsibility and tell their children what is okay.
Rush hour can mean accidents
Vassbotn says that rush hour is a time when traffic accidents can take center stage.
In the past, there have been many traffic accidents in connection with the Russian era.
Trygg Trafikk, the police and the Swedish Road Administration have themselves expressed concern about the condition of the Russian buses, among other things.
She explains that in Nordland county they have taken measures to ensure that this statistic is low locally.
Kari Vassbotn, regional manager for Safe Traffic in Nordland.
Photo: Trygg Trafikk
– As long as I have worked here, we have not had any serious traffic accidents involving drugs. It may be due to the tradition of having a Russian camp, and not so many Russian buses. At the same time, the county council has introduced free public transport for all drunks.
This may make it easier for the Russians to make smarter choices. She nevertheless asks parents to have a good chat with their drug addict, that they are only a phone call away.
– Making safe choices is very important. Let the young person know that no matter what condition they are in, they can call to be picked up. It can prevent them from making stupid choices that can lead to big consequences.
– Finally, I just want to wish everyone a nice Russian time, and that they take care of themselves and others.
