Sharp increase in driver's license seizures for speeding in Norway

Norwegian roads are seeing a significant surge in dangerous driving this summer, with police reporting a nearly 14% jump in driver's license seizures for speeding compared to last year. So far, 1,413 drivers have lost their licenses in June and July alone.

District leader Geir Marthinsen of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration's Traffic Police (UP) Nord described some recent traffic stops as "yielding tremendous results." He noted that during one control in Evenes, Nordland, ten drivers lost their licenses in a short period. "I can hardly remember us having that," Marthinsen said. "So, people are driving fast on the roads. In all zones, we have caught double the speed limit. Some are really pushing the limits."

The UP has observed a "worryingly large increase" in license seizures and reports this year. Across Norway, 2,901 drivers have lost their licenses for speeding year-to-date, nearly 10% more than during the same period last year. The increase is most pronounced in the Oslo, Sør-Vest, and Trøndelag police districts.

While speeding affects a wide age range, Marthinsen stated that the majority of offenders are men. "Women also drive too fast, but they more often end up with a simplified fine. When we talk about license seizures, it's mostly men," he explained. He added a stark warning: "If things go wrong at high speeds, you generally know what the outcome will be."

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