Many died in motorcycle accidents this summer

Motorcyclists make up the majority of those killed on Norwegian roads this summer. Eleven of the eighteen who died in traffic in June and July were driving motorcycles. 

Of the eleven motorcyclists, seven died from downhill runs. Two of the fatal accidents accrued when the motorcyclist tried to overtake.

The average age among those who died is relatively high, Nine of the eleven were in the age group between 40 and 59 years old, according to numbers from the Norwegian Public Roads and Administration.

-”These are disturbing figures.” said Department Director, Guro Ranes, for traffic safety in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. 

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration accident analysis group is to review the accidents to identify the reasons and eventual similarities. 

-”It is too early to say anything about what caused the increase or if what we see is a trend.”, said Ranes. 

In total, nine people died on Norwegian roads in July, four women and five men. Sixty people have died in this year’s first seven months. This is four more than the same period last year, according to numbers from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

-”There does not seem to be a change that can be attributed to the Coronavirus.”, says Ranes.

In other European countries, the number of people who died in traffic has dropped significantly in 2020, as a result of the Corona pandemic. The Norwegian figures are similar to her neighboring countries, Sweden and Denmark, where little or no change has been registered compared to last year.  

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today