A Norwegian mother received a 21-day prison sentence after her teenage son drove at 150 km/h during a practice driving session on the E39 highway near Bergen. The court found the woman acted negligently as the supervising adult during the dangerous incident.
The Hordaland District Court convicted the mother and revoked her driver's license for 13 months. Her son had been driving nearly double the 80 km/h speed limit between the Eidsvåg Tunnel and Glaskar Tunnel. The speed measurement occurred during an informal car meet event this summer.
Defense attorney Jørgen Riple stated his client was disappointed with the conviction but pleased the court reduced the license suspension period compared to police demands. Both mother and son face serious consequences from the high-speed driving lesson gone wrong.
Norwegian driving supervision laws place clear responsibility on accompanying adults during practice sessions. The court determined the mother failed to recognize the excessive speed or intervene appropriately. This case highlights the serious obligations facing those supervising learner drivers in Norway.
Police prosecutor Beate Musemakweri Seth emphasized the inherent danger of driving 150 km/h. She noted the aggravating circumstance that this occurred during a practice session connected to a car meet. Such events sometimes encourage risky driving behavior among participants.
The key legal question centered on what happened inside the vehicle during the speed violation. Prosecutors needed to prove the mother acted negligently as the supervising adult. Police and the defendant presented conflicting accounts about whether she instructed her son to reduce speed.
The mother claimed she didn't realize how fast they were traveling and hadn't checked the speedometer. She testified her first reaction when exiting the tunnel was to tell her son to slow down. Police officers disputed this version of events during court proceedings.
The court found both the mother and son's explanations seemed constructed and inconsistent with case facts. Judges relied on police assessments and recorded interviews conducted the same evening as the incident.
Assistant district leader Eivind Hellesund of the Emergency Police noted this case serves as an important reminder about supervisor responsibilities during practice driving. He stated such incidents fortunately remain rare but carry serious consequences when they occur.
The son received his own sentence in September, including 21 days of conditional imprisonment and a driver's license ban until July 2027. Both mother and son must complete new driving tests when eligible to regain their licenses.
This case underscores Norway's strict approach to road safety, particularly regarding young drivers. The country maintains some of Europe's most comprehensive graduated licensing systems. Supervising adults bear legal responsibility for ensuring practice sessions occur safely within legal limits.
Norwegian driving education typically involves extensive practice requirements before solo driving. The system depends heavily on responsible supervision during this learning period. This conviction demonstrates courts will enforce supervisor accountability when safety breaches occur.
Road safety experts note that high-speed practice driving represents particular concern in Norway's often challenging driving conditions. Mountain roads, frequent tunnels, and variable weather require careful speed management even for experienced drivers.