Fresh snow and damp roads that suddenly were coated with thin layers of ice led to a string of traffic accidents south of Oslo. They followed many more in the mountains and in western and southern Norway over the weekend.
The first snow and ice of the season often takes motorists by surprise, but police said this year seemed extreme. Dozens of cars and trucks and even a commuter bus slid off roads in Drøbak, Ski and Frogn townships Monday morning.
The bad weather and emergency vehicles forced closure of several roads during the rush hour. Even vehicles equipped with the winter tires required at this time of year had problems.
“The roads were slippery as soap in some places,” operations leader Leif Olav Horten of the Follo Police District told newspaper Aftenposten. He said his officers also cited some motorists who still had summer tires on their cars.
“If you haven’t changed to winter tires, you must let your car stand still in this weather,” Horten said. “Otherwise you risk accidents, fines and revocation of your driver’s license.”
The weather cleared up on Tuesday, with the sun shining in Oslo at midday, but temperatures remained below freezing and more snow was expected later in the week.
Views and News staff
