ICE-SAR received 8.5% fewer requests for assistance in 2017 than in 2016. At the same time the number of foreign visitors and traffic on Icelandic roads continued to grow. The reason for the drop in requests for assistance is not least that the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority has been more aggressive when it comes to closing roads due to weather.
More travellers, fewer in distress
According to data from ICE-SAR the search and rescue units received 1,029 requests for assistance for various search and rescue operations in 2017, compared to 1,124 in 2016. This is a drop of 8.5%. At the same time the number of foreign travellers visiting Iceland increased by 8.4% and data from the IRCA shows that traffic on Icelandic roads increased by 10.6% in 2017.
Read more: Icelandic Search and Rescue Units featured in CNN’s Great Big Story
In recent years members of ICE-SAR have expressed significant concern that the growing numbers of foreign visitors was placing an excessive strain on the all-volunteer first responders. ICE-SAR is manned by volunteers who are willing to leave their work or families to come to the rescue of people in distress. The operations of ICE-SAR are also fully funded by donations.
Growing tourism created a new problem
A spokesman for ICE-SAR told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that a major reason for the drop was that the IRCA has been closing roads earlier than previously than in previous years. Roads in the Central Highlands and several mountain roads were closed earlier in the fall than previously, and the IRCA has also been willing to close down parts of the Ring Road when storms hit.
Read more: Head of Search and Rescue Teams says it is vital to further information to foreign visitors
Prior to the tourism boom roads were rarely closed due to weather. The growing numbers of travellers who are unfamiliar with Icelandic conditions and don't know how to judge the weather has changed this.
ICE-SAR received 8.5% fewer requests for assistance in 2017 than in 2016. At the same time the number of foreign visitors and traffic on Icelandic roads continued to grow. The reason for the drop in requests for assistance is not least that the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority has been more aggressive when it comes to closing roads due to weather.
More travellers, fewer in distress
According to data from ICE-SAR the search and rescue units received 1,029 requests for assistance for various search and rescue operations in 2017, compared to 1,124 in 2016. This is a drop of 8.5%. At the same time the number of foreign travellers visiting Iceland increased by 8.4% and data from the IRCA shows that traffic on Icelandic roads increased by 10.6% in 2017.
Read more: Icelandic Search and Rescue Units featured in CNN’s Great Big Story
In recent years members of ICE-SAR have expressed significant concern that the growing numbers of foreign visitors was placing an excessive strain on the all-volunteer first responders. ICE-SAR is manned by volunteers who are willing to leave their work or families to come to the rescue of people in distress. The operations of ICE-SAR are also fully funded by donations.
Growing tourism created a new problem
A spokesman for ICE-SAR told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that a major reason for the drop was that the IRCA has been closing roads earlier than previously than in previous years. Roads in the Central Highlands and several mountain roads were closed earlier in the fall than previously, and the IRCA has also been willing to close down parts of the Ring Road when storms hit.
Read more: Head of Search and Rescue Teams says it is vital to further information to foreign visitors
Prior to the tourism boom roads were rarely closed due to weather. The growing numbers of travellers who are unfamiliar with Icelandic conditions and don't know how to judge the weather has changed this.
