A total of 68% of Norwegians completely or somewhat agree that fireworks on New Year’s Eve should be banned, a recent survey shows. The findings do not concern the Norwegian Fireworks Association.
About 40% of respondents agree entirely that fireworks should be banned, according to a survey conducted by Norstat on behalf of the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists (Nito).
A total of 1,015 people participated in the survey.
Furthermore, 60% of those who want to ban fireworks cite the danger of fire and personal injury as the main reason behind their opinion.
The findings do not surprise Nito’s vice president and municipal engineer Kjetil Lein.
“Every year, people are injured by fireworks, and small and large fires occur,” Lein said.
Sales results
Rikard Spets of the Norwegian Fireworks Association does not see the figures as negative, at least not this year.
He says that already after one day of selling fireworks, they have noticed an increase in interest.
Spets says that the vast majority of people tend to go out when the clock approaches midnight on December 31.
“Surveys we have conducted show that 90% of people are out to watch the fireworks,” he noted.
Safety
Lein in Nito says that their members in the fire and rescue services go out to accidents and fires as a result of fireworks every year.
“Fireworks are still legal, and it is important that everyone takes responsibility and follows the instructions for their use, and uses recommended protective equipment,” Lein said.
For private individuals, it is only allowed to set off fireworks between 6:00 PM on New Year’s Eve and 2:00 AM on January 1.
Spets notes that their members take safety seriously.
“Everyone who sells fireworks is trained to do so. They hand out safety goggles and give advice. Everyone who buys fireworks also gets the necessary information,” he said.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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