That's impressive. Even more impressive is that the yearly death toll has been 10 or below since around 2005. Is it because people/teens are now staying indoors more due to the internet or is it due to a policy change or is it technological improvements in cars? I don't speak norwegian so I can't read the linked article.
There are many factors. Cars are getting safer, streets are getting safer, LED lighting has vastly improved visibility for cars and bikes and pedestrians, and also that Norwegian driver education is very thorough.
Drivers ed starts with a 17 hours (2/3 days) theory course, then you are allowed at 16 to start practice driving with parent/other experienced driver in the passenger seat, then you do mandatory hands-on courses on: night driving, cold weather driving, safety driving (on closed track); typically you take at least 5-10 driving lessons on public roads with a certified instructor, then you can take the theoretical exam, and finally the 1-hour driving test before you get your certificate.
Being in a traffic accident is common but lethal accidents are rare. In a modern car it’s actually pretty hard to get yourself killed - you need some kind of high speed collision. Getting rid of those is the challenge.
Technological improvements in cars is a factor, but improvements in infrastructure is probably more important.
When I got my license 20 years ago, there were few roundabouts and on lots of roads there was oncoming traffic. I did overtaking where I needed to judge the timing with oncoming traffic to do it safely.
Now 20 years later I almost never overtake with oncoming traffic (as in a few times per year with 20000km). Highways are separated, often into “2+1”. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2%2B1_road
Not because I drive slower or more safely but because there just isn’t a need.
There are almost no big 4 way intersections with 2 roads having speed 50kph or over. They are converted to roundabouts (thousands of them).
This is Sweden - but it’s pretty much the same story.
Interesting point, but I'm under the impression (after living in Oslo my entire life) that it has to do with a well laid out seperation between heavy traffic (ie. buses) and pedestrians, along with relatively low speed limits and restrictions on private cars in the city center.
It's being attributed to safer cars, better roads, lower speed limits, more cycle lanes and less cars in the city center. (cars were / are being banned from parts of the city)
