Police in west Iceland were notified about two passenger busses that had been parked on the side of Ring Road 1 near Mt Hafnarfjall shortly before Christmas.
The drivers had switched off all lights, making it impossible for oncoming traffic to spot the vehicles in the dark. According to local newsagent Skessuhorn’s report, the reason for this was to allow passengers a better view of the Northern Lights.
A motorist contacted the police after narrowly avoiding an accident with one of the busses. The driver claimed that passengers were stood in the middle of the road, eyes peeled to the sky or their mobile phones in an attempt to capture the natural phenomenon on film. However, when the police arrived at the scene moments later, the group had disappeared.
“We expect drivers and tour guides to act responsibly. They are accountable for these people. Unfortunately, one cannot prevent accidents from happening, but in this case it was an accident waiting to happen, all because of reckless behaviour,” Theódór Þórðarsson, with the West Iceland Police Department, told Skessuhorn.
Driving on Iceland’s narrow roads can be dangerous at times. Please note, never stop a vehicle on top of, or below a blind rise. When approaching a single lane bridge, the vehicle first to arrive at the bridge has the right of way. And, headlights must be turned on at all times, day and night, all year around.
Police in west Iceland were notified about two passenger busses that had been parked on the side of Ring Road 1 near Mt Hafnarfjall shortly before Christmas.
The drivers had switched off all lights, making it impossible for oncoming traffic to spot the vehicles in the dark. According to local newsagent Skessuhorn’s report, the reason for this was to allow passengers a better view of the Northern Lights.
A motorist contacted the police after narrowly avoiding an accident with one of the busses. The driver claimed that passengers were stood in the middle of the road, eyes peeled to the sky or their mobile phones in an attempt to capture the natural phenomenon on film. However, when the police arrived at the scene moments later, the group had disappeared.
“We expect drivers and tour guides to act responsibly. They are accountable for these people. Unfortunately, one cannot prevent accidents from happening, but in this case it was an accident waiting to happen, all because of reckless behaviour,” Theódór Þórðarsson, with the West Iceland Police Department, told Skessuhorn.
Driving on Iceland’s narrow roads can be dangerous at times. Please note, never stop a vehicle on top of, or below a blind rise. When approaching a single lane bridge, the vehicle first to arrive at the bridge has the right of way. And, headlights must be turned on at all times, day and night, all year around.
