Report on head-on collision between a lorry and a passenger car on the RV 83 road in Harstad on 3 January 2023

At 07:13 on Tuesday 3 January 2023 a lorry heading south from Harstad skidded in a right-hand curve on the RV 83 road, approximately 2 km north of Tjeldsundbrua. The rear left part of the lorry crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and collided with an oncoming passenger car. In the collision, the lorry's floor and cabinet penetrated the cabin of the passenger car and the driver of the car was killed.

At the time of the accident, it was dark, and it snowed, and the road was covered with slush and snow, except for the tyre tracks. The driver of the lorry was an apprentice in a transport company and had held a driving license for class C (lorry) for about 2 years when the accident occurred.

The investigation has shown the importance of adapting driving behaviour and speed to winter conditions. NSIA believes that the driver's choice of speed, position in the roadway and use of the lorry's various braking systems, in combination with road and driving conditions, contributed to the accident occurring.

The investigation has shown that the implemented measures for winter conditions on the road section where the accident occurred were appropriate and within the requirements. The amount of slush and snow cannot be determined with certainty, but there was probably no layer of ice between the asphalt and the slush at the accident site. A transition from new to old asphalt at the site of the accident may have caused the clearing of snow to have different effects on the road conditions.

NSIA believes that a more thorough approach to safe driving on winter conditions in both the theoretical and practical education related to driver's license class C, as well as further training and follow-up in companies, can increase traffic safety. Therefore, it is important that the curriculum for driving license class C provides clear guidelines, which in turn can be reflected in theory books and training, so that students acquire sufficient competence in the area. The education for heavy vehicles, which pose a great danger to other road users, should include, among other things, driving on rutted roadways, positioning in the roadway, and the use of different types of additional braking systems.

As a result of this investigation the NSIA submits one safety recommendation.

Final position of the passenger car. The photo was taken after the rescue work. Photo: The police, light-adjusted

Published 03.01.2024