Report on road traffic accident involving an ambulance and an HGV on the E18 road near Arendal on 4 March 2021
Road traffic report 2022/08
The accident on 4 March 2021 on the E18 road near Arendal occurred when an ambulance responding to an incipient fire was rear-ended by an HGV outside the Torsbuås tunnel. A doctor in the ambulance was seriously injured in the collision, and the other persons involved suffered minor injuries. On the basis of this investigation, the NSIA encourages health trusts and emergency service personnel to raise their awareness of risk assessments in emergency response situations, as well as of appropriate safety equipment and correct use of such equipment in ambulances. The investigation has also identified a need for the TCC to immediately be notified of any traffic incidents on high-speed motorways, so that the TCC operators can take appropriate and timely action.
Photo: Video from The Traffic Control Centre (TCC)
The ambulance from Sørlandet Hospital in Arendal was responding to an incipient fire without personal injuries in a southbound lane. The ambulance was travelling north through the tunnel in the left-hand lane with its blue lights activated, and passed an HGV travelling in the right-hand lane. The HGV driver had not noticed that the HGV was passed by an ambulance towards the end of the tunnel. The ambulance slowed down and turned into the right lane in order to use the service passage to make a U-turn. The HGV driver only then became aware of the ambulance, and had neither the time nor the possibility to avert the collision.
The investigation has shown that the way in which the ambulance manoeuvred due to the design of the service passage across the central reservation constituted a risk factor in relation to other road users. The sudden movement out of the seat belt, combined with the point of impact and the energy mechanism involved in the collision, account for the extent of the doctor’s injuries.
The Traffic Control Centre (TCC) had not implemented any traffic-related measures, such as closing lanes or lowering the speed limit, on the section of road in question. The reason for this was that the TCC had just located the incipient fire when it was notified of the accident involving the ambulance and the HGV at approximately the same location.
The NSIA submits two safety recommendations following the investigation.
This report is in Norwegian only.
Published 21.10.2021
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Road No 2022/20T
The accident on 4 March 2021 occurred when an ambulance responding to an incipient fire was rear-ended by an HGV outside the Torsbuås tunnel on the E18 road near Arendal. The way in which the ambulance manoeuvred due to the design of the service passage across the central reservation constituted a risk factor in relation to other road users. The Traffic Control Centre (TCC) had not implemented any traffic-related measures, such as closing lanes or lowering the speed limit, on the section of road in question. The reason for this was that the TCC had just located the incipient fire when it was notified of the accident involving the ambulance and the HGV at approximately the same location. The NSIA believes that action on the part of the TCC could have made road users more vigilant and lowered the accident risk in connection with the ambulance response.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the National Police Directorate and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration establish guidelines and cooperate to ensure that the Traffic Control Centre (TCC) is always notified of road traffic accidents and incipient fires on high-speed motorways, so that the TCC can assess the importance of the notification and the need to implement appropriate and timely measures.
Safety recommendation Road No 2022/21T
The accident on 4 March 2021 occurred when an ambulance responding to an incipient fire was rear-ended by an HGV outside the Torsbuås tunnel on the E18 road near Arendal. The way in which the ambulance manoeuvred due to the design of the service passage across the central reservation constituted a risk factor in relation to other road users. The ambulance driver was a highly experienced emergency response driver, and had driven an ambulance under emergency response conditions on the section of road in question several times before. The NSIA is not certain whether a high number of emergency responses is sufficient to cover the need for driving with an instructor and training with feedback in specific road environments. That will require a good evaluation system whereby ambulance staff are given the opportunity to give and receive feedback in a learning perspective.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that Sørlandet Hospital consider whether the current practices relating to education, training and experiential learning for emergency response drivers sufficiently address traffic safety for the hospital's own personnel as well as for other road users. Particular emphasis should be placed on the emergency response drivers’ risk assessments, plans for driving, positioning and speed adaptation, as well as communication with other road users.
Facts
| Location | E18, Arendal, Torsbuaastunnelen |
| Occurrence date | 04.03.2021 |
| Accident type | Collision |
| Road class | European road |
| County | Agder |
| Police Disctrict | Agder |
| Vehicle type | Other, Truck and trailer |
| Type of Transportation | Freight transport |
| Road region | Agder |
| Accident category | Ulykke m/ kjøretøy over 7500 kg |