Norway's roads turned treacherous Friday as severe ice caused multiple pile-ups and stranded dozens of vehicles, overwhelming emergency services in two regions. Police reported up to 20 vehicles slid off County Road 715 near Leksvik in Trøndelag, while a separate collision between a car and a truck on National Road 7 in Buskerud created kilometers-long traffic jams. Operations leaders described conditions as "extremely slippery" across wide areas, urging drivers to exercise extreme caution.
A Scene of Slippery Chaos
The incident in Indre Fosen, Trøndelag, stretched approximately 150 meters along the road, according to operations leader Martin Hammervik Aarhoug. Fire and rescue services were on site working to secure the area and prevent more vehicles from entering the hazardous zone. "The site is secured and stretches about 150 meters," Aarhoug said in a statement. He confirmed the situation did not initially appear to be serious in terms of injuries, but the primary concern was the dangerous driving surface. The Road Traffic Centre was alerted and dispatched a contractor to address the icy conditions on Fylkesvei 715.
Simultaneously, the Innlandet Police District reported receiving "a very large number" of calls concerning vehicles skidding off roads, stranded cars and lorries, and traffic jams resulting from such incidents. The reports came from across the entire district. "The messages are coming from the whole district. The roads in Innlandet are very slippery in many places and we urge motorists to drive with great caution," said operations leader Bård Einar Hoft.
Strain on Emergency Services
The volume of calls has strained police resources, leading officials to direct the public to contact the Road Traffic Centre for specific questions about road conditions. Hoft explicitly asked people not to call the police for general inquiries. "We do not have the capacity to answer questions about whether your specific area is affected," he stated. This redirection highlights the widespread nature of the problem and the need to keep emergency lines open for acute incidents. The police focus remains on coordinating the response to existing accidents and preventing new ones.
In Buskerud, the collision on Riksvei 7 at Flå, though occurring at low speed, had a major ripple effect. It caused long queues in both directions, trapping motorists for extended periods. Marthe Krekling Mathiesen was on her way to a cabin when she got stuck. "It was completely still for an hour and a half, so we decided to turn around. When we drove back we saw that the queue was completely stationary for five kilometers," Mathiesen said. Her cabin trip continued, albeit with a delay of several hours—a common fate for many Norwegians heading out for the weekend.
Broader Implications for Winter Preparedness
These simultaneous incidents across different parts of the country underscore a recurring seasonal challenge for Norwegian infrastructure and motorists. While Norway is well-equipped for winter, rapid changes in temperature around the freezing point can create particularly dangerous black ice, or "glatteis," that is difficult to predict and treat. The events test the coordination between the National Road Traffic Centre, local road maintenance contractors, and police districts.
The economic impact is also notable, from delays in logistics and freight transport carried by the stranded lorries to the personal disruptions for hundreds of motorists. Each incident requires a significant allocation of resources: police to manage traffic and accidents, fire and rescue to ensure safety and prevent further incidents, and road crews to salt and sand the surfaces. For major highways like Riksvei 7, even a minor collision can disrupt travel for thousands due to the limited alternative routes in mountainous areas.