Report on a head-on collision involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and a passenger car on the fv. 24 road near Vallset in Stange municipality, 27 April 2023

Accident site. Photo: NSIA

In the evening of Thursday 27 April 2023, an HGV drove southbound on road fv. 24 in Stange municipality in Innlandet county. At the same time, a Volvo V60 passenger car with four people drove northbound on road fv. 24. The weather at the time of the accident was overcast and the road surface was dry. In a right-hand curve the passenger car crossed over to the oncoming lane and collided head on with the HGV. The HGV then pushed the passenger car backwards about 34 m before both vehicles stopped. In the passenger car the driver, the passenger in the front seat and the passenger in the rear right seat were fatally injured, while the passenger in the rear left seat was critically injured. The driver of the HGV was unharmed.

The NSIA cannot determine why the passenger car did not follow the road’s alignment, crossed over to the oncoming lane and collided with the HGV. There is no reliable information available about what happened inside the passenger car in the last seconds before the accident. Based on a compilation of the factual information, the NSIA considers the most possible explanation to be a moment of inattention from the driver. Falling asleep or indisposition are considered less probable.

Everyone in the passenger car used seatbelts. There was no survival room in the front seats of the car but there was survival room for the two passengers in the rear seat. However, the collision forces in this accident were so massive that the NSIA has asked the question of how it was possible for one person to survive. The passive safety in the vehicle, in addition to efficient rescue work and good medical treatment, contributed to the survival of the passenger in the rear left seat, despite the massive forces in the collision. A better positioned seat belt at the hip could possibly have reduced the extent of the injuries to this passenger. A protective net was installed between the car’s trunk and compartment which obstructed luggage from being thrown forward. The protective net could however have relieved the rear seat back somewhat more if it had been installed according to the instructions. 

The speed limit was 80 km/h, and the road appeared relatively new. Innlandet County Authority had established reinforced centreline road marking (sinusoidal rumble strips) on road fv. 24, but because of the road’s proximity to housings and out of consideration for possible noise, rumble strips were not established in the area where the accident occurred. Based on the investigation, the NSIA considers that rumble strips could have contributed to the driver becoming aware that the car was crossing into the oncoming lane and further given him a possibility to correct this. 

The national road norm N302 concerning road marking allows each individual administrative body to decide where reinforced centreline road marking is to be installed, if the speed limit is minimum 70 km/h and the road width is at least 7,5 m. The norm does not mention proximity to housings. The investigation has shown varying practices among different administrative bodies. 

Reinforced centreline road marking is a highly cost-effective road safety measure, and the guidelines in the N302 should ensure that the measure is used to the greatest extent possible. Clearer, knowledge-based guidelines in the road norm will help simplify such assessments, for example out of consideration for noise for nearby housings, as well as contribute to a more uniform practice. The NSIA believes that situations where reinforced centreline marking is not installed, although the road design and speed limits allow for this, must be well assessed.

As a result of this investigation, the NSIA issues one safety recommendation related to reinforced centreline marking and road norm N302.

In addition, the NSIA would like to highlight the following learning points for road users:

• Check that seatbelts are correctly tightened by the hip.
• Always use a protective net for luggage when available and install it in accordance with the manufacturer´s instructions.

Published 26.06.2024