OSLO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Norway's transport minister has this week raised the alarm after a spike in deaths on the country's roads in 2025.
According to preliminary figures released by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration on Thursday, 111 people died on Norwegian roads in 2025. This represented an increase of 24 from the previous year, when 87 fatalities were registered.
"There are far too many people who lose their lives on our roads, and I am very concerned about the developments we are seeing," Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygard said in a statement.
Accident analyses by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration show that high speeds, intoxication, inattention, and risky behavior are the most common causes of fatal crashes.
While final figures for serious injuries have not yet been confirmed, the agency estimates that the combined number of deaths and serious injuries in road traffic in 2025 is more than 600.
Of the 111 deaths recorded in 2025, 94 were men and 17 were women. These individuals included 10 pedestrians, 11 cyclists, and two e-scooter riders. Meanwhile, a total of 25 people died on motorcycles, light motorcycles, or mopeds.
The summer months saw the highest number of deaths, with 18 fatalities in June and 16 in July, according to the figures.
Since 2001, Norway has been attempting to implement a "zero vision": no fatalities or serious injuries on the roads. Its National Transport Plan 2025-2036 sets out the goal that by 2030, there will be a maximum of 350 people either killed or seriously injured in road traffic, with a maximum of 50 deaths. ■