h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here's another interesting thing about driving in Norway: As in most countries, light-controlled cross-roads in Norway usually have a white line going half-way across the road at the position of the lights themselves, and just AFTER this line a set of broad, alternating black and white stripes running parallel to the edge of the road and crossing its entire width. In most other countries, these alternating stripes are referred to as a pedestrian crossing (or cross-walk in the USA, or something else with the same meaning in other countires). In Norway, however, the purpose of these stripes is to indicate to the first driver to be stopped by a red light just WHERE to position his car while he sits revving his engine in order to get away as quickly as possible, or alternatively edging gradually forwards so as to be able to turn right as soon as he sees that no vehicles are coming from the left. (Please note that according to Norwegian law, right turn is not permitted at a red light.) I live overlooking a cross roads, and from my observations I estimate that about 7 drivers of 10 do not stop until they have passed the traffic lights and positioned their vehicles ON TOP OF the alternating black and white stripes...

Of course, this only applies to those drivers who actually consider it NECESSARY to stop at a red light, which is probably about 50 percent of them. Most drivers do not actually seem to register that there is a set of traffic lights ahead of them at all until it is too late. Even those who do appear to consider the lights a challenge, and are more inclined to put their foot down hard on the accelerator as the light turns red than to use the brakes.

Trying to cross the road in Iceland poses similar problems. In both Reykjavik and Akureyri (please excuse the poor spelling), I waited for the green man and was nearly squashed by an enourmous monster truck trying to turn into the road I was crossing.

No elk that I know of, though.

Trying to cross the road in Iceland poses similar problems. In both Reykjavik and Akureyri (please excuse the poor spelling), I waited for the green man and was nearly squashed by an enormous monster truck trying to turn into the road I was crossing.

No elk that I know of, though.