Runoff from trucks creates slippery roads – fear deaths in traffic – NRK Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio

Hundreds of trucks full of fish circulate on Norwegian roads every day. The fish is packed in ice, and when it melts, a pink sauce of water and fish blood flows out onto the road.

The result: smooth roads, regardless of the season.

In summer, the road becomes slippery, which is especially dangerous for two-wheelers. It’s even worse in winter, when the mud freezes and the road freezes.

“I just hope there is no fatal accident when this freezes over on winter roads,” says control manager Morten Frantzen at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

He was one of those who went to work on Wednesday night this week.

Two drivers reported

During the night until Wednesday, he and his colleagues had to stop 13 trucks in Trøndelag. 12 of them in Berkåk in Rennebu municipality.

– You could say that last night Berkåk smelled of salmon farming, says the control manager.

All drivers were temporarily banned from driving. They had to wait until the pink liquid stopped flowing from the charge.

– Buckets fill in two minutes. It is blood water. And it smells. The drivers themselves don’t want to step on the soup and carry it to the car, explains Frantzen.

Two of the 13 drivers who were stopped in Trøndelag were also reported to the police by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

In fact, they had stopped due to the second round for the third and fourth times.

– They are registered in our systems. Many are about to be reviewed, says Frantzen.

The punishment that drivers may receive depends on the police.

Known issue, but nothing happens

There is salmon transport from the Trøndelag coast and around the country every day. Some will also go further in Europe.

We are talking about many, many miles of runoff.

Runoff from salmon trucks has been a known problem for years. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is frustrated that there have been no improvements yet.

Could have taken even more

13 trucks in one night is a lot, says Frantzen. But there could have been so much more.

– The partner and I did not have the capacity to take more, because this adds to the other things that we have to control, he says.

It should be possible to transport the fish without runoff, keeping the hold cool enough or in sealed boxes.

Drivers who are stopped often have to wait several hours to be able to drive further in Norway and Europe. According to Frantzen, many are trying to shorten the waiting time:

– They set the unit at minus 20. They should maintain a uniform temperature instead of running it at minus 20 when stopped.

The Minister will soon receive a proposed solution.

Sjømatbedriftene CEO Robert Eriksson believes the runoff situation has worsened; It has never been worse than now.

– That is why we have initiated a collaboration between the fishing industry and the trucking industry to achieve a standard that prevents traffic accidents and improves traffic safety.

Eriksson says that introducing a temperature log on trucks is one possible measure. Beyond that, he will not comment on the proposals yet.

Using multiple links with subcontractors is also a challenge, according to him. He says that there will always be a battle between the carriers to get the assignments and that they have a joint responsibility.

This is the first time that the fishing industry has taken an independent initiative together with the carriers.

– I hope the Minister will address it when we deliver the proposals.