I have the inspiration to work out tunnels. At the exam there is always a question about tunnels. I advise you, when you are a passenger in transport, to pay attention to tunnels. 1. What do they set up before the entrance to a tunnel? These are posts with black-and-white stripes diagonally 914 Tunnelmarkering and 916 Avstandsmarkering i tunnel. Skiltet markerer avstand til tunnelåpningen. Be sure to look at them carefully and remember! When these signs come up at the exam, a strange feeling may arise with the question: “and where have I seen them?”
In Norway there are more than 900 tunnels, with a length of 85 miles = 850 km. The most serious accidents happen in tunnels. In Norway they make great efforts to ensure safety, but much also depends on the drivers themselves (bilførerne opptrer fornuftig ved kjøring i tunnel), that is drivers must act rationally when driving through a tunnel. At the entrance to a tunnel we may see the name of the tunnel, the length and pictures Telephone SOS — nødtelefon, a picture of a fire extinguisher (brannslukningsutstyr) and a picture of a red cross on a white background (førstehjelpsutstyr). These three pictures tell us that all this necessary equipment is in the tunnel and in case of an accident you can use the nødtelefon free of charge, use the fire extinguisher (brannslukningsutstyr) and give first aid (førstehjelpsutstyr).
Pay attention to the Radio skilt. It indicates the radio frequencies you need to be tuned to when driving through a tunnel, and next to this sign a yellow light may flash (blinkende gult lys), which lets us understand that somewhere nearby an accident has happened and we need to listen to the radio. “Tunnelen er stengt” is an inscription on a red background, and if under it two large round red “lamps” flash (blinkende rød lys), then you must stop. What else may there be in a tunnel? — Havarilommer — an emergency bay. In case of an accident you drive into this bay, leave the car, see the green directional sign Ut/EXIT—> (rømningsskilt). The word rømning means to flee. Above the sign hangs a telephone, you must calmly report that you are in the tunnel and immediately open the door and run! Løft av røret og snakk rolig, mottakeren vet hvor du er — you lift the receiver and speak calmly, the duty officer knows where you are.
And here are recommendations from the Norwegian textbook: 1. Before entering a tunnel reduce speed (senk farten), there may be poor visibility (dårlig sikt) and also it may be slippery (glatt). 2. Bruk fjernlys (use high beam) if it is dark in the tunnel (mørkt i tunnelen), and these black-and-white posts called markeringsskilt 914 will show you the way (viser veg). 3. Sikre god sikt (ensure good visibility). It can be damp in a tunnel and the windows mist up (dugg) and to prevent this we switch on the wipers (bruk vindusviskere). 4. Unngå forbikjøring i tunnel — avoid overtaking, it is dangerous!
It turns out there is such a concept as tunnel fear (tunnelskrekk). Bilførere som er redde for å kjøre i tunnel, føler seg tryggere når det er flere i bilen. — Drivers who are afraid of driving in a tunnel feel safer when they are not alone in the car. Such drivers should if possible look for another route. That is how it is with Norwegian drivers!