Ban on traffic control warnings will weaken traffic safety

– We contribute to the safety of over 700,000 road trips every day. If this ban is introduced, an important road safety service could disappear, says Wester.

Safedrive is Norway's largest player in traffic control alerts, but the service also includes alerts about animals on the road, accidents and other dangers. The service has now exceeded 120,000 users. The company is based in Namsos and has over 60 employees.

– We fear that the proposal will weaken the Storting's goal of zero serious injuries and deaths in traffic. The proposal will be counterproductive, says Wester. He points out that the government has not documented that a ban will make the roads safer, which he believes should be a prerequisite for such a drastic decision.

Wester emphasizes that the ban will not only affect Safedrive and the company's employees, but also the many who use the service daily.

“Our users range from tradesmen and professional drivers to regular motorists who want a safer drive. They warn of animals on the road, accidents and dangerous driving conditions – information that can prevent serious accidents. A ban would mean that this type of important information sharing could disappear,” he says.

– We have built a successful business in Norway that makes car travel safer and creates jobs. This proposal puts our entire business at risk, without the government being able to document that it will make the roads safer, says Magnus Wester.

A ban on control notifications would be a serious infringement on freedom of expression, believes Magnus Wester.

“This is about basic democratic principles. The authorities cannot prohibit the sharing of publicly available information without compelling reasons,” he says.

He refers to previous assessments from both the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice, where a similar ban was considered legally problematic. According to Wester, there have been no changes to the Constitution or political practice that would indicate that the assessment is different today.

– In order to introduce such a drastic decision, it must be documented that it actually increases traffic safety. That documentation does not exist, he says.

Wester urges the government to explain the need for a ban and thoroughly assess the consequences.

– We will actively participate in the consultation process and continue the fight for both road safety and freedom of expression, he concludes.