Official Regulations and Rules on the Road in Norway
List of practicalities for TC customers shared by ATCF, the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland
One of Touring Cars' partners, the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (ATCF) , wants to share a list of practical tips for road trippers in Northern Europe. This first article covers official regulations in Norway.
Traffic Information
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration Statens Vegvesen publishes traffic alerts on their website www.vegvesen.no. You can also plan your route on their site. If you want to notify the traffic service center yourself, for example, about an obstacle on the road, you can call 175 (when in Norway) or +47 22 175 175 from abroad.
There is right-hand traffic in Norway. One must avoid coming from the right, unless otherwise indicated. Those driving in the traffic circle have the right of way. City trams always have the right of way.
Meeting/bypassing points marked with a blue M traffic sign have been constructed on narrow roads, where vehicles can pass each other. The driver on the side of the meeting point must yield to the oncoming vehicle.
Speed limits inside towns are 50 km/h unless otherwise indicated and outside town areas on motorways 80 km/h or up to 110 km/h.
The police have the right to impose a traffic fine and collect a fee on the spot. In Norway, there are hundreds of cameras monitoring traffic. Traffic signs warn of cameras. If the sign says "strekningsmåling", it means distance measurement. In this case, there are surveillance cameras on the road at the beginning and end of the sections to be measured. The cameras capture footage at both ends of the vehicle. If there is no speeding, the images disappear from the cameras within 5 minutes.
Roads and Road Tolls
There are more than 1,200 road tunnels in Norway. The longest is the Lærdalstunnel (toll-free), which is 24.5 km long and is located on the E16 between Lærdal and Aurland.
The steepness of the roads usually does not exceed 10%. The E68 has a 20% gradient from Gudvangen to Stalheim. At the steepest point, there is a tunnel to facilitate traffic. TC Rental Station teams in Oslo and Tromsø will guide how to drive sustainably on steep mountain roads.
In Norway, tolls are charged on various roads and bridges. Toll booths are marked with Autopass signs. A blue sign with only the letters "Kr" indicates that there is a toll road ahead. All payment points are fully automated. TC Rental Station team will guide you on how to handle road tolls on your journey in Norway.
Big cities like Oslo are divided into environmental zones. In Oslo, local authorities can occasionally ban diesel-powered trucks and/or cars if the city's air quality reaches certain pollution levels. The driving ban is announced a day in advance, for example, on the municipality's website (www.oslo.kommune.no).
Gas stations are generally open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m./11:00 p.m., but most cities also have stations open 24 hours a day. Prices are higher in the northern and mountainous areas. In remote areas, gas stations can be more than 100 km apart, so it's worth refueling in advance.
You can easily drive across borders in Scandinavia and all of Europe. All main roads have border crossing points which are open around the clock. If you plan to tour also in countries other than the one from which you have picked up your rental vehicle, please remember to notify our local team. They will guide you through all necessary tips for a motorhome in each country.
Safety Issues
Required documents to have on your holiday:
- Passport or identity card: If necessary, proof of identity must be provided
- Driver's license (only B level is needed for a motorhome)
Recommended documents for European citizens:
- European Health Insurance Card
- Insurances
Headlights must always be used while driving. Fog lights are not mandatory. If fog lights are used, they must be accompanied by either high beams, low beams, or daytime running lights.
Do not mix drinking and driving on your road trip. In Norway, alcohol laws are very strict, and penalties for driving under the influence are severe. The legal limit is 0,02% blood alcohol and applies to the driver of any motorized vehicle. Also avoid medications marked with a red triangle if you intend to drive.
Additionally, we recommend reading safety instructions published by Visit Norway: https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/safety-first/road-safety/
Emergency numbers
- Police 112
- Ambulance 113
- Fire Department 110
In the event of an accident and some personal injuries, a report must be made to the police and the rescue services. Accidents in which a wild animal is injured or killed must also be reported to the police.
Camping with a Motorhome
Spending the night outside camping areas is permitted under the right of Everyman in sparsely populated and uncultivated areas at a maximum distance of 150 meters from a residential building or cabin. If the vehicle is parked closer to a settlement, the landowner's permission must be obtained. Local restrictions may apply. No camping signs must be adhered to.
Open fires are prohibited from 15 April to 15 September.
To find camping sites in Norway, you can use the NAF campsites online service: www.nafcamp.no. The Camping Key Europe camping card is accepted in Norway. An international camp card is also valid.
Norwegian caravan parks and motorhome tank emptying stations (tømmestasjoner) can be found on the website http://bobilplassen.no/. Alternatively, you can locate services on some mobile applications such as Park4night.
Enjoy your road trip in Norway - the Road is Yours!
We want to thank our partner, the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (ATCF) for sharing this essential guideline with us. ATCF is the only nationwide association of private motorists in Finland. The association is called AL Autoliitto in Finnish and this organization is a member of FIA, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Touring Cars and ATCF are collaborating in Finland: Autoliitto ATCF in Finland publishes a magazine for motorists: Moottori.fi.
- Original Source & copyright: The Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (ATCF) / AL Autoliitto, Susanna Suokonautio-Hynninen
Translation & some TC notes have been added: Touring Cars Motorhome Rental Europe
