Danger on the roads is increasing. Many drivers ignore warnings

Most accidents on summer tires occurred during the first snowfall, but there were also many later in the season. Differences in tire selection between regions are significant, according to the insurance company’s analysis.

According to Andre N. Oldebråten, head of the motor claims department at If, drivers often delay changing their tires. The regulations clearly state that a vehicle must have tires appropriate for road conditions. The responsibility lies with the driver.

In some regions, delays in changing tires are particularly noticeable. In Agder, as many as 25.2 percent of cars involved in accidents had summer tires, which was the highest rate in the country.

Troms and Finnmark recorded the highest share of studded tires – 82.7 percent, and on Svalbard only studded tires were used. In Oslo, studless winter tires were most common – 77.12 percent.

If’s statistics cover more than 23,000 passenger cars, vans, and campers across the country for the 2024/2025 season.

About one fifth of all passenger cars in Norway are insured with If, providing a cross-sectional view of the situation on the roads. The data show that many accidents could have been avoided with proper tire selection.

Seasonal differences in climate and precipitation influence drivers’ decisions, but the consequences of improper tires are real. Drivers who ignore the regulations may not only risk accidents, but also bear part of the damage costs.