Figures released by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration last week revealed that faults or defects were found on 22,586 of the 260,000 vehicles that have passed through their checkpoints this year.
In a statement released last Thursday, the NLF stated that 260,000 heavy vehicles have passed through one of their checkpoints so far in 2021.
Most of the trucks have been allowed to continue on their journeys after a short check, but 43,273 have been subject to a more thorough inspection. Of those, 22,586 have been found to have defects. 12,880 have been banned from use, while 5,453 have resulted in charges being made. 819 drivers have also been reported for violations of road or road transport law.
Most heavy vehicles on Norwegian roads are in good condition. The vast majority of drivers are also aware of their responsibilities and do what they can to ensure safety. Our task is to stop those who, consciously or unconsciously, compromise on both safety and regulations. We work for better traffic safety, more equal conditions of competition in the transport industry and good working conditions for drivers, says Kjetil Wigdel, department director at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
The NLF states that effective checks with the right focus are absolutely crucial for maintaining traffic safety, as well as ensuring a level playing field in the industry.
Both Norwegian and foreign companies that break the rules unfortunately often also have a financial incentive to do so. They are helping to push low margins even further down and are a major challenge for the serious players in the industry, points out Geir A. Mo, the CEO of NLF.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration adds that it is constantly working to become better at targeting inspections.
We want to spend most of our time on those who actually have faults and shortcomings. We’ll find them, among other things, by using technological aids and registers. We also depend on experienced inspectors who, with the help of sight, hearing and sense of smell, can pick out the vehicles we should take a closer look at. We have that all over the country, says Wigdel.
Last week’s statement from the NLF also revealed the reasons why lorries have been subject to operation bans this year:
- Overloaded vehicles – 3,517
- Inadequate load securing – 3,616
- Poor tyres or missing chains on winter tyres – 232 operating bans
Finally, 382 drivers have been reported for gross violations of the driving and rest time rules.
Photo credit: Volvo Trucks
