In Vestby, a man in his 50s was flown to Ullevål with serious injuries and at Notodden on Wednesday evening, two motorbikes were involved in what according to the police appears to be a serious accident.
There have been a number of overturns and accidents in southern Norway where motorcycles have been involved. In the West police district, there were so many such incidents that the police commented on it amongst themselves. After all, the weather has been fine and the road surface dry.
– There are many indications that people are not quite used to cycling. You are a bit rusty on the two-wheeler, and then it happens, says operations manager Tatjana Knappen on a general basis.
She adds that many young people have been involved in the accidents.
– There have been no serious accidents, fortunately, but a good number of reports of minor accidents and rollovers. And one who were caught for reckless driving without a registered motorcycle and license, says Knappen about the accidents in the West police district.
They also got a so-called e-callalarm service in case of accidents where an emergency tracking is sent from the mobile.
When the police arrived, they saw two MCs along the road where one had overturned in a bend at low speed. Fortunately, there was only material damage.
In the Sør-West police district there had been three accidents involving motorbikes when VG spoke to operations manager Roger Litlatun.
– It is not usual to have three on the same day. It may indicate that there were a lot of motorcycles out.
He advises people to take it easy when they take out the two-wheeler after a long winter.
– It’s good to start slowly so that you get back into training with riding a motorcycle. I don’t know the background to the accidents we’ve had, but it makes sense to take it a bit easy – you’re simply rusty, he says to VG.
– Gentle road user
This advice is also given by his colleague in the East police district, operations manager Lisbeth Mjøsund.
– It is at the very beginning of the season, so you can assume that many are somewhat rusty in their skills without me having a basis to go into depth about what happened today, she says to VG.
Mjøsund advises everyone to check that everything technical is in order and to focus on brushing up their own skills.
– Drive according to the conditions and take it easy. You are a soft road user in the traffic picture and more exposed if accidents occur.
21 lost their lives
According to Trygg Trafikk, 21 motorbike drivers died on Norwegian roads in 2022 and the same number last year.
– We have seen an increase in motorcycle accidents over time, says press manager Christoffer Solstad Steen in Trygg Trafikk.
He states that several working groups have been set up to reduce the number of accidents.
– They are far more vulnerable and unprotected than many other road users, especially at the speeds a motorcycle can maintain. Another challenge is that many MC drivers are rusty when driving after a long winter with the bike in the garage.
Another point, according to Steen, is that other road users also have to get used to the fact that the motorbikes are back on the road.
– If you don’t expect an MC, then you won’t see an MC either. But beyond the season you get used to them being there, he says.
Steen warns that there may still be gravel left in many places, which makes it easy to slip.
– Keep an eye on where you should be on the road. At MC, it is important to look ahead and anticipate what you will do further into the future. The most professional MC riders plan – and for every obstacle they have a plan B, he concludes.
In Møre og Romsdal, a motorbike driver had his driver’s license confiscated on 1 May after being caught driving 106 km/h in a 60 zone.
Tags: motorcycle accidents overturns
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