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Last Updated: 4/5/2000
Visitors should be aware that a wide range of services will be affected
by strike action from 3 May. Although international and domestic flights, international ferry services, and public transport (trains, buses and trams) expect to operate normally the situation could change at short notice. Visitors to Norway would therefore be well advised to check with individual travel agencies, hotels, and/or transport companies prior to departure.
CRIME INFORMATION: Norway has a relatively low crime rate. Most crimes involve the theft of personal property, e.g. residential burglary, auto theft, or vandalism to parked cars. Persons who appear affluent may become targets of pickpockets and purse-snatchers, especially in certain parts of the Oslo area. Thieves have also begun to target dining areas in hotels, particularly buffets, and steal purses or briefcases left at a table while the diner is getting food. Violent crime, however, remains the exception; weapons are almost never used by thieves or burglars.
Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Good
Roadblocks for checks of drivers under the influence of alcohol are frequent. Submission to a breathalyzer test is mandatory. Stiff jail sentences for driving while intoxicated are routine. Because of Norway’s mountainous terrain, most roads are narrow and winding. The northerly latitude can cause road conditions to vary greatly depending on weather and time of year. Many mountain roads are closed due to snow from late fall to late spring. Drivers should observe posted speed limits, which are significantly lower than in many other European countries.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict. Some substances which are legal in other European countries, such as Khat, are prohibited in Norway. The possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use which may not result in arrest in neighboring countries can result in arrest in Norway and, if drugs are discovered upon one’s arrival in Norway, can result in a charge of importation rather than simple possession. Penalties usually include detention, a hefty fine and deportation, usually to the United States.
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