2016 saw a dramatic spike in the number of foreign travellers involved in serious traffic accidents. Last year saw 80% more foreign travellers sustained serious injuries in car accidents, compared to the year before. The cause of the growing number of serious accidents is lack of information to foreign travellers on how to drive in Iceland, the head of the Icelandic Transport Authority.
Read more: Foreign travellers unfamiliar with Icelandic roundabouts causing traffic accidents
According to data from the Transport Authority the number of foreign travellers who suffered serious injuries in traffic accidents in 2016 was 43, compared to 24 in 2015. The total number of foreign travellers who were injured in road accidents remained similar, or just about 190. Two foreign travellers died in car accidents in 2015.
The director of the Transport Authority tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the reason for the increase in serious traffic accidents among foreign travellers is lack of education, including high numbers of young drivers. He adds that the authorities have not been aggressive enough in educating foreign visitors on Icelandic road conditions, but hopes that increased funding for education can address this.
2016 saw a dramatic spike in the number of foreign travellers involved in serious traffic accidents. Last year saw 80% more foreign travellers sustained serious injuries in car accidents, compared to the year before. The cause of the growing number of serious accidents is lack of information to foreign travellers on how to drive in Iceland, the head of the Icelandic Transport Authority.
Read more: Foreign travellers unfamiliar with Icelandic roundabouts causing traffic accidents
According to data from the Transport Authority the number of foreign travellers who suffered serious injuries in traffic accidents in 2016 was 43, compared to 24 in 2015. The total number of foreign travellers who were injured in road accidents remained similar, or just about 190. Two foreign travellers died in car accidents in 2015.
The director of the Transport Authority tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the reason for the increase in serious traffic accidents among foreign travellers is lack of education, including high numbers of young drivers. He adds that the authorities have not been aggressive enough in educating foreign visitors on Icelandic road conditions, but hopes that increased funding for education can address this.
