Just one year ago, the company set a goal of 100,000 members in Norway by the end of 2023. Now, another ambitious goal has been achieved, but the company has no plans to rest on its laurels.
In February, the fine rates for violations of the Road Traffic Act increased by 30 percent. The fine rates will now be raised again, if the government gets its way. The question is whether ever-higher fines work as intended, says Ingunn Handagard, press officer at NAF.
Mobile phone use in the car could cost you a lot more from the New Year.
It is well known that traffic fines in Norway are at a very high compared to many other countries. Now, the government aims to increase the rates by 4.9 percent from January 1, 2024, to keep pace with inflation.
NAF believes the increase comes too soon.
- There was a lot of skepticism about the previous increase and whether it would work as intended. We are calling for a thorough review of whether the increased fines have actually had an effect on traffic safety and whether there have been fewer offenses after the increase, says Ingunn Handagard, press officer at NAF, in a press release.
Handagard points out that when the government increased fine rates in February of this year, it was justified with regard to traffic safety. The government defended the increase citing the high number of traffic fatalities in 2022.
- 2023 could be another year with a high number of fatalities in traffic. But if fines do not have an impact on the number of violations or accidents, the increases appear more justified by a need to generate revenue for the government rather than being a traffic safety measure, says Handagard.
The proposal for increased fine rates would, for example, mean that the fine for mobile phone use behind the wheel will increase to NOK 10,200. The same applies to violations of the right of way or running a red light.
Handagard points out that if the fines are set too high, it may go against people's sense of justice.
- We are in an expensive time, and the fines are already at a high level. Another increase so quickly could be perceived as tone-deaf, she explains.
Many Norwegians are struggling to make ends meet. Increased penalty rates will be extra burdensome for lower-income households.
After the increase in February, NAF therefore urged the Parliament to look into whether a system of income-dependent fines, like they have in Finland, could be relevant for Norway
- It is an important principle that a penalty is reasonable and proportionate to the offense committed. This should also apply to traffic fines. In addition, we believe that the fine should be proportionate to people's ability to pay, especially if the level is set as high as the government is proposing.
Magnus Wester, CEO of Safedrive, agrees with Ingunn Handagard and NAF, but also calls for other measures.
- Like NAF, we question the effectiveness of further increasing fine rates. When the current fine rates were open for public consultation, key parts of the police, the Traffic Police, the Attorney General, Road Safety, and the Norwegian Truck Owners' Association all responded with a 'no' to the introduction of these exorbitant rates. Nevertheless, the new traffic fines were implemented.
- In a difficult time where many households are facing significant challenges, these increases will, for the vast majority, appear unreasonable and disproportionate â especially when experts in law and traffic safety also express criticism.
- We at Safedrive would have liked to have seen other concrete and documentable measures to improve road safety and attitudes in traffic, says Wester.
These are the rates after the increase:
The new fine rates have not been formally adopted and can still be stopped after the consultation period.
Would you like to go to the Norwegian edition?
