Norway is a leader in road safety in Europe, consistently outperforming its continental counterparts. In 2020, the country recorded just 93 road fatalities, translating to a mortality rate of approximately 2 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants – less than half the European Union average.
Outcome
68% reduction in road deaths between 2000 and 2019 (pre-COVID), despite a 19% increase in population and a 42% increase in traffic. This translates into 233 lives saved.
Norway recorded 0.3 road fatalities per 10 000 registered vehicles in 2019. This represents a decrease of 78% compared to the year 2000, when the fatality rate for registered vehicles was 1.2.
Why
The Norwegian Institute of Transport Research investigated potential explanations for the reduction in the number of traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries between 2000 and 2012. The study indicated that the two most important contributing factors were the increasing market penetration of various safety features on cars and the tendency for a decrease in the mean speed of traffic.
Awareness campaign / relative ranking.
How
This achievement is the result of a long-term, comprehensive approach to road safety. It's the product of decades of focused efforts. At the heart of Norway's approach is the ambitious 'Vision Zero' strategy, adopted in 2001.
The Norwegian government set a target of zero road deaths by 2050, demonstrating a long-term goal.
They have implemented a series of targeted measures to achieve this, including
Comprehensive Action Plans: The 6th and latest 2022-2025 plan includes 179 specific measures, each assigned to a particular organization.
Focus on Key Issues: Special attention is given to critical factors such as speed, drink-driving, and distraction while driving.
Infrastructure Improvements: Continuous upgrades to road design and safety features.
Enforcement and Education: Increased police enforcement coupled with public awareness campaigns.
Vehicle Safety: Encouraging faster renewal of the car fleet to introduce vehicles with advanced safety features.
Norway's success in road safety demonstrates the effectiveness of a holistic, data-driven approach combined with strong long term political commitment and public support.
Trade-offs
Short-term costs vs. Long-term benefits: Implementing Vision Zero required significant upfront investments in infrastructure changes, education campaigns, and enforcement. These costs had to be balanced against the long-term benefits of reduced fatalities and injuries.
Individual freedom vs. Collective responsibility: Vision Zero shifted the paradigm of responsibility for road safety from individual road users to system designers and policymakers. This meant potentially limiting some individual freedoms (like driving at higher speeds) for the collective good.
Convenience vs. Safety: The strategy often prioritized safety over convenience for drivers. This included measures like:
· Removing parking spaces to create bike lanes or wider sidewalks
· Restricting car access in certain urban areas
· Implementing more traffic calming measures like speed bumps
Comments