Road traffic accidents involving personal injury, final figures, 2003

Of the 11 851 persons injured in traffic accidents last year, 994 were dangerously or seriously injured. In comparison, the figures for 1994-2003 show a yearly average of 301 persons killed and 1 229 dangerously or seriously injured in the last ten years.

More cyclists killed, but fewer injured

A total of 14 cyclists were killed and 731 were injured on Norwegian roads last year, compared with 12 killed and 796 injured in 2002. 212 of the killed and injured persons were children under the age of 15. Compared with 1994 the number of killed and injured cyclists has been reduced by just above 26 per cent.

Fewer accidents involving pedestrians

The number of injured pedestrians decreased in 2003. While 33 pedestrians were killed and 862 were injured in 2002, the figures for 2003 show that 34 pedestrians were killed and 821 injured on Norwegian roads last year. The figures for the ten-year period 1994-2003 show that an average of 41 pedestrians are killed and 944 are injured each year.

Decreased number of motorcycle accidents

A total of 30 motorcyclists were killed and 660 were injured in 2003, which is a decrease of seven persons killed and 61 persons injured compared with 2002. Compared with the average figures for 1994-2003 show 28 killed and 661 injured.

Children killed

20 children under the age of 15 lost their lives and 975 were injured in Norwegian traffic in 2003, an increase of 5 children killed, but 104 fewer injured compared with 2002. The figures for 1994-2003 show that an average of 17 children are killed and 995 are injured on Norwegian roads each year. Of the 20 children that were killed in road traffic accidents last year, nine were passengers of automobiles, two were cyclists and nine were pedestrians.

Fewer persons killed in the age group 15-34 years

41.4 per cent of the persons that were killed in Norwegian traffic last year, were between 15 and 34 years old, a decrease of 8 per cent from 2002. Altogether, 116 persons in this age group were killed on Norwegian roads in 2003, a decrease of 37 persons compared with 2002. The number of injured persons in this age group 15-34 years also decrease compared with the previous year. A total of 5 837 persons between 15 and 34 were injured in Norwegian traffic in 2003, which is 250 fewer than in 2002.

Twice as many persons killed in the age group above 79 years

The number of fatalities in the age group over 79 years, increased more from 2002 to 2003 than similar figures for any other age group. A total of 28 persons were killed and 258 were injured in this age group last year, compared with 14 killed and 279 injured in 2002. Nine of the 28 persons that were killed in this age group in 2003 were drivers of automobiles, which is a decrease of six compared with 2002. Of the other fatalities in this age group in 2003 four were passengers of automobiles, one was cyclist and 14 were pedestrians.

Altogether, six persons were killed and 203 were injured in the age group 70-74 years in 2003. In 2002 the figures for this age group show 14 killed and 256 injured.

Road traffic accidents in Nordic countries

According to preliminary figures from Statistics Denmark , there were 6 749 accidents on Danish roads in 2003. A total of 432 persons were killed and 8 412 were injured in these accidents.

Preliminary figures from Statistics Finland show 6 907 accidents on Finish roads in 2003, with a total of 379 persons killed and 9 088 injured.

The figures for the number of accidents and injuries in Sweden will be presented later this year.

Relatively high number of injuries in Norway

In proportion to the size of the population, Norway has a higher number of injuries - but somewhat fewer fatalities - than Denmark and Finland.

Comparative figures show that Norway had 259 injuries and six casualties per 100 000 inhabitants in 2003. Similar figures for Denmark show 156 injuries and eight casualties, while the figures for Finland show 174 injuries and seven casualties per 100 000 inhabitants in 2003.

The statistics are compiled from returns made by police authorities. Less severe accidents and injuries are therefore under-represented in the figures.

Tables:

• Table 1 Persons killed or injured in road traffic accidents, by group of road-user 1994-2003
• Table 2 Persons killed or injured, by road-user and degree of injury. 1994-2003
• Table 3 Persons killed or injured, by road-user and sex. 1994-2003
• Table 4 Persons killed or injured, by group of age. 1994-2003
• Table 5 Persons killed or injured, by road-user and age. 2003
• Table 6 Persons killed or injured, by road-user, police district and county. 2003
• Table 7 Persons killed or injured, by age, police district and county. 2003
• Table 8 Persons killed or injured in road traffic accidents, by group of road-user, type of residential area and group of accidents. 2003
• Table 9 Cyclists killed or injured, by age, sex and protection. 2003
• Table 10 Persons killed or injured in road traffic accidents in the Nordic countries1994-2003