Report on motorcycle accident at Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office in Hunndalen in Gjøvik municipality on 10 July 2020
Road traffic report 2021/03
On 10 July 2020 a learner rode out of the training area at Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office. The learner was practising turning techniques in the training area when an accidental throttle input occurred, and the learner lost control of the motorcycle. The learner rode out of the training area, down a slope in the terrain, and subsequently crashed into the wall of an industrial building. The learner died instantly from crush injuries to the upper body. The training area had no railings or other barriers to secure the slope where the motorcycle drove into the terrain. The investigation has shown that no requirements have been set for the implementation of risk assessments or safety measures in connection with the planning, design and use of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s (NPRA) training areas, over and above the guidelines for administering driving tests (‘Retningslinjer for gjennomføring av førerprøve i alle klasser’ – in Norwegian only).
The investigation has also shown that the NPRA has not established an internal approval system for training areas with the focus on safety measures and giving due consideration to traffic safety. The NSIA believes that the NPRA should improve its internal control of training areas, including possible limitations on use.
The curriculum for driving licence category A states that each instructor may provide training to up to three learners at the same time. There are no requirements for the level of skills and experience of the students. The NSIA believes that a situation in which learners at different skill levels practise at the same time on their own vehicles in a training area can be challenging from both a teaching perspective and in terms of safety. The NSIA will therefore also stress the importance of complying with the requirement in the curriculum that training shall be adapted to the learners’ skill level, following an individual assessment.
The investigation has shown that there is no system in the driving school industry for reporting undesirable incidents and accidents that occur in connection with training. The driving school industry consists of many small entities (driving schools etc.), spread across the country. A reporting system could help to achieve more learning and experience transfer between them, which NSIA believes is important for improving traffic safety during driving training.
The NSIA submits three safety recommendations in connection with this investigation.
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation ROAD No 2021/08T
The investigation of the motorcycle accident at Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office on 10 July 2020 has shown that the training area had no railings or other form of physical barrier that could have prevented or reduced the extent of the damage/injury in the event of a motorcycle driving into the terrain. There is no requirement for a risk assessment when establishing the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s training areas, over and above the general requirements described in the guidelines for administering driving tests.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration establish safety requirements that include risk assessments in connection with designing and using both existing and new training areas for practical riding tests for motorcycles.
Safety recommendation ROAD No 2021/09T
The investigation of the motorcycle accident at Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office on 10 July 2020 has shown that the training area had no railings or other form of barrier that could have prevented or reduced the extent of the damage/injury in the event of a motorcycle driving into the terrain. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration does not systematically follow up safety in connection with the design, alteration or use of its own training areas.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration improve its internal control of its own training areas in order to quality assure safe design and use.
Safety recommendation ROAD No 2021/10T
The investigation of the motorcycle accident at Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office on 10 July 2020 has shown that there is no system in the driving school industry for reporting undesirable incidents and accidents that occur in connection with training. The driving school industry consists of many small entities (driving schools etc.), spread across the country, and a reporting system could help to achieve more learning and experience transfer between them.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Driving Schools Association (ATL) and Trafikkforum, in cooperation with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, establish a joint reporting system for the driving school industry, to ensure that incidents and accidents that occur in connection with driver training are registered and evaluated.
Facts
| Location | Training area, Gjøvik Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, Gjøvik, Innlandet |
| Occurrence date | 10.07.2020 |
| Accident type | Other accident |
| Road class | Private road or area |
| County | Innlandet |
| Police Disctrict | Innlandet |
| Vehicle type | Heavy MC |
| Type of Transportation | Private transport |
| Road region | Innlandet |
| Accident category | Annen ulykke |