Road traffic is the very link in Norwegian value creation, and the industry employs approximately as many people as live in Kristiansand and Drammen combined.
Norway is an elongated country with challenging topography. All professional forecasts say that road traffic will strengthen its position as the preferred form of transport in the future.
Road transport is leading the way in the green shift, and will move towards zero emissions faster than other forms of transport, such as boats and planes. And significantly faster than the time it takes to build out the railway. In Norway, there are 2,500 kilometers of railway, but a full 100,000 kilometers of road.
Norway depends on the car. It binds people, goods and services together. In parallel with this, Norway has committed itself to very ambitious climate targets.
To achieve these, we must move as many as possible to emission-free alternatives – not slow down the pace by introducing high taxes on purchase and use.
Creates great value for society
A report carried out by Menon Economics on behalf of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration shows that road traffic has a value of NOK 1,100 billion a year.
580 billion of this is about what the transport of goods is worth, while the value of travel for work and service is calculated to be worth 220 billion. Leisure trips and everyday logistics such as driving children to training, or visiting family, relatives or friends, are valued at 330 billion.
Gives work to 180,000
In addition to being a link in Norway’s value creation, the car and road traffic is a large and important industry in its own right.
In fact, the industry employs more people than live in Kristiansand and Drammen combined, and the total turnover is NOK 500 billion per year.
The car makes it possible to live, drive value creation and create jobs throughout Norway – also out in the rural areas.
Most of the time there is good capacity on Norwegian roads. Therefore, we should make the best possible use of the transport years we already have. It is profitable – and sustainable.