Norway’s highways are where the scenery — and the stats — are stunning. Canva: Credit
In a world where dodging potholes can feel like a sport, and going through roundabouts is a gamble, one country in particular has mastered the art of safe driving: Norway. Yes- Norway has officially been ranked the safest place to drive in Europe, clocking around 21 road deaths per million people in 2022. That is a record-breakingly low statistic. So what is their secret? Do they drive slower? Are Norwegians, in general, superstitiously cautious? Or have they acquired a secret spell that all of us missed? Let us hit the road and find out.
Stats don’t lie
First, some perspective on the EU average in 2022: It was 46 deaths per million. Spain? It is around 36. France? Closer to 50. Romania is double that. But Norway comes in under 21, which is half the EU average, with less than one fatality per 50,000 people. In other words, the odds of your survival during a morning commute are particularly safe when you’re surrounded by fjords.
So, Norway has been going for “vision zero”, and that is not a flashy buzzword. Since 2001, it has been a road safety programme that aims for zero traffic deaths. Not for lower, but Zero, and the way they approach this is that every fatality is preventable. Another way they prepare their citizens is by offering them diving licenses, which are no joke. Passing a driver’s test is like passing a life exam. You must pass multiple theory tests, night driving, slippery road training, and real hazard simulations before you are legally allowed to parallel park in public. This is not just about common sense, but more on Norway’s push for stricter seasonal tyre rules, especially during winter, because your life and brakes will thank you.
Quick weird facts
Driving in Norway is a well-organised and politely driven Scandinavian sitcom. Here are a few reasons why:
Reindeer > Roundabouts
Yes, you heard correctly, there are actual traffic signs that include reindeer crossings. It is not a decorative feature, and it is because while you commute, a herd of antlers stroll casually across the road. So the reindeer signs are where you can say to your boss, “Sorry, I am late, because reindeer are on the road” as a valid excuse.
EVS in bus lanes?
Norway loves electric cars, so much so that in some cities, EVS can drive in bus lanes. Imagine being overtaken by a silent Tesla while stuck in traffic—a great way to question your own carbon footprint.
Headlights… Always
Well, this is fun: you must drive with your headlights on 24/7, even at night. Because there is a solar flare, especially in July, it is mandatory by law to have your headlights on. It’s like knitting with outdoor cooking, and it’s taken very seriously in Norway.
What can other countries learn?
Road safety can vary widely in many areas of Europe. Other countries have excellent infrastructure but inconsistent information and enforcement. Other challenges include older vehicles, bad lighting, and, let’s be honest, people who treat lanes as suggestions. Even in relatively safe countries such as Germany or Spain, you are still, by odds, 2-3 times more likely to die on the road than in Norway.
Norway is not lucky in this regard, and it’s more of a strategic design. Their approach of training their drivers on good policy, strict training, social responsibility, and intelligent road design can work, and it is still working. So the big takeaway is that if you want safer roads, don’t just fix them, fix the system that puts people on them.
