Right, you lot, listen up! Apparently, some of you clowns out there think it’s a lark to drive around with your wheels practically held on by hope and a prayer. This article is saying every year, some hapless muppet’s wheel decides to go for a solo stroll, leaving them stranded on the side of the road looking like a right berk.
And the worst part? Almost half of you lazy sods don’t even bother to check if your wheels are properly fastened after getting new tyres! You’d think changing a tyre was like performing brain surgery, so complicated it required a degree in mechanical engineering!
"Oh, it’s probably fine," you say. Well, let me tell you something, sunshine, a loose wheel is like a ticking time bomb. "Rolling murder weapon," the article calls it, and that’s not far off. Imagine a hefty tyre bouncing down the road at 60mph.
You think that’s gonna stop for a little squirrel crossing the street? It’s more likely to flatten the poor thing like a pancake!
And then there’s Oslo… they’re leading the pack in tyre-related negligence! You lot wouldn’t know a secure bolt if it bit you on the arse.
Honestly, it’s like Darwin’s theory of evolution is getting a head start in this city.
Look, it’s not rocket science, people! Tighten those bolts, double-check them, and for God’s sake, stop driving around with death traps on wheels. Let’s not make this a Darwin Award competition, eh?
(This article was first published on Broom.no)
Every year, motorists across Norway face the frightening possibility of a wheel detaching from their vehicle while driving.
Recent weeks have seen workshops and tire storage facilities inundated with customers eager to switch to winter tires as cold weather approaches. However, alarming new data reveals a disturbing trend: less than half of Norwegian drivers take the crucial step of verifying that their wheels are securely fastened after a tire change.
Roger Ytre-Hauge, head of motoring at Frende Forsikring, expressed grave concern, stating that only 49% of motorists confirm they check their wheel bolts after driving for a while following a tire change. This low percentage is exceptionally worrisome, he emphasized.
These findings emerge from a comprehensive survey conducted by Norstat in November this year on behalf of Frende.
A staggering 14% of respondents admitted they never check their wheel bolts, while 8% were unaware of the need to do so. Almost 30% said they only perform this safety check sporadically. These statistics paint a worrying picture of potential danger on Norwegian roads.
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– Rolling murder weapon
Ytre-Hauge stressed the importance of checking wheel bolts, regardless of whether the tire change is handled by a professional workshop or done by the driver themselves. He highlighted that workshops frequently remind customers to do so, yet some drivers neglect this vital step.
Initially, drivers may experience vibrations in the car, serving as a warning sign. If ignored, the wheel could detach, causing significant damage to the vehicle as it hits the ground.
However, the danger extends far beyond the vehicle itself. Ytre-Hauge described the detached wheel as a “rolling murder weapon.”
“The wheel continues to travel at high speed until it comes into contact with something,” he explained. “We can only hope that this ‘something’ is not a human being or an animal. That’s where the tragic potential arises. A tire at high speed is a rolling murder weapon,” he added, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Oslo citizens are the worst
The survey revealed a worrying regional disparity in safety practices. Oslo residents emerged as the least likely to perform the crucial post-tire-change safety check, with a concerning 62% admitting they skip this step.
Close behind Oslo were Vestfold and Akershus, both with 58% of respondents neglecting this vital check. Troms followed with 56%, and Møre and Romsdal with 54%.
Other regions showed slightly better but still concerning figures: Østfold (51%), Vestland (50%), Rogaland (48%), Trøndelag (47%), Nordland (47%), Agder (46%), Buskerud (45%), Telemark (42%), Finnmark (41%), and Innlandet (41%).
Source: Frende Forsikring
How can drivers prevent loose wheels from becoming a safety hazard?
## Loose Wheels: A Ticking Time Bomb on Norwegian Roads
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing a chilling trend on Norwegian roads – loose wheels. With us is Roger Ytre-Hauge, head of motoring at Frende Forsikring. Roger, thank you for joining us.
**Roger:** It’s my pleasure to be here. [ [1](https://www.tv2.no/broom/advarer-et-rullende-drapsvapen/17216949/) ]
**Interviewer:** This issue seems straightforward – tighten your wheel bolts, right? Yet, recent data paints a worrying picture. What’s the situation?
**Roger:** It’s alarming, to say the least. A recent survey by Frende revealed that only 49% of Norwegian drivers consistently check their wheel bolts after a tire change. That means nearly half of us are potentially driving around with loose wheels, putting ourselves and others at risk.
**Interviewer:** That’s a shocking statistic. What are the consequences of driving with loose wheels?
**Roger:** The consequences can be devastating. A loose wheel can detach at any moment, leading to loss of control, accidents, and serious injuries, even fatalities.
Imagine a heavy tire bouncing down the road at highway speeds – it becomes a “rolling murder weapon,” as some have called it.
**Interviewer:** It’s frightening to think about. Why do you think so many drivers neglect this simple safety check?
**Roger:** There seems to be a lack of awareness about the importance of checking wheel bolts. Some people may assume it’s the mechanic’s job, or they just don’t realize how crucial this step is.
**Interviewer:** What advice would you give our viewers to avoid this danger?
**Roger:** It’s simple. After getting new tires or having any work done on your wheels, always double-check that your wheel bolts are securely tightened. You can do this yourself using a torque wrench, or ask your mechanic to do it.
**Interviewer:** Thanks for highlighting this critical safety issue, Roger. Our viewers need to remember that tightening those bolts could potentially save lives.