Trucks to be checked at the border

Foreign trucks only account for 22 percent of heavy vehicles on Norwegian roads. Still, they account for as much as 33 percent of towing and road assistance in the winter. The statistics are based on numbers from M¯re and Romsdal on the West coast of Norway, but the situation is the same across the country.

Poor tires and no chains are common, but not the only reason why foreign vehicles get stuck, according to Ivar Hol in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. "Many of them are of a different construction than trucks normally used in Norway," he says to NRK." Many drivers are also not used to driving in snow and icy conditions.

"This has to become a priority," says Knut Arild Hareide, the chair of the transport committee. He thinks that we may be able to control the vehicles better by implementing stricter and more frequent border controls before the trucks enter the country.

"It is better that we spend money on more controls than using a lot of resources in a rescue situation," Hareide tells NRK. "More controls may help us avoid the problem."

More controls may also help solve the cost issue of towing and road assistance. At this point, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration and the Police usually have to split the bill when they call for assistance. However, trying to get their money back from the driver or truck owner is usually a lost cause.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland