Only Inspections Will Save Lives? Shocking Report from Norwegian Police

Redakcja

22.01.2026 09:09

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Only Inspections Will Save Lives? Shocking Report from Norwegian Police

Increased inspections, not further restrictions, are said to be key. Fot. Adobe Stock, licencja standardowa (zdjęcie poglądowe)

The number of road accident victims in Norway has stopped decreasing. Police analysis shows that the country is moving away from its road safety targets for the coming years.

In 2023, 110 people died on Norwegian roads. Another 568 road users were seriously injured. In total, there were 678 victims who either died or suffered severe injuries. The data comes from a report published in January 2026, prepared by the Norwegian Traffic Police and the Police Directorate.

Worst in Years: Tragic Accident Statistics for 2025

Aggressive Behavior and Repeat Offenders on the Roads

The police report highlights the ongoing issue of aggressive driving, including extreme speeding and provoking police chases. Light motorcycle communities are a particular problem. Illegal car gatherings, such as streetmeets, have also been reported.

The analysis points out the repeat nature of offenses. A significant portion of drivers caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs had previous records. Many offenders were driving without a license. Repeat offenses also occur in speeding and other traffic law violations.

Accidents and Highest-Risk Groups in Norway

The most common type of fatal and severe accidents were road departures, accounting for 34% of all incidents. Head-on collisions ranked second. Most serious accidents occurred on regional roads.

Particularly concerning data relates to youth aged 15–19, where the number of victims increased compared to previous years. High risk also persists among motorcyclists and light motorcycle users.

Record Revenues from Fines: Speed Cameras Break Records

Speed, Alcohol, and Inattention

Excessive speed was a contributing factor in 25% of fatal accidents and influenced the severity of injuries in over half of the cases. At the same time, 62.1% of drivers adhered to speed limits, a slight year-on-year improvement.

Alcohol and other intoxicating substances played a role in 20% of fatal incidents. Police checks also showed a decrease in offenses related to mobile phone use while driving. However, survey data shows that more than half of young drivers admit to illegally using their phones behind the wheel.

Police Inspections and Reducing Road Casualties in Norway

The Norwegian Traffic Police consider inspections to be one of the most effective tools for improving road safety. The report covers both patrol activities and automated speed enforcement, such as speed cameras. It indicates that increasing the number of inspections could significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries. Speed, sobriety, and risky behavior checks play a particularly important role.

The document also analyzes the impact of speed cameras and average speed checks. Data shows a decrease in serious speeding violations in areas with constant monitoring. The police emphasize the importance of targeted preventive actions. The goal is to achieve national safety targets by 2030 and 2050.

Norwegian-Style Speed Limits: A Regulatory Revolution Is Coming

Key conclusions from the police report:

– Police inspections are among the most effective and cost-efficient tools to improve safety,

– There is a need to intensify actions regarding speed, alcohol, drugs, and aggressive behavior,

– The current level of activity is not sufficient to achieve the targets for 2030 and 2050,

– The focus should be on enforcing existing restrictions, not introducing new ones,

– Younger drivers are more often prosecuted for speeding,

– Older age groups more often receive fines after automated checks,

– The most serious offenses are more often detected during manual inspections.

The police recommend:

– Increasing speed checks,

– Greater use of speed cameras and average speed measurements,

– Targeting actions at road sections with a high concentration of serious accidents,

– Focusing on curbing extreme violations rather than minor infractions.

Plans indicate that by 2030, a maximum of 350 people may die or be seriously injured, with the number of fatalities not exceeding 50. By 2050, the goal is zero road deaths.

The full report is available >>>HERE<<<.