Traffic accidents cost the Múlaþing community over ISK 15 Billion
Djúpivogur in Múlaþing. Most of the roads are under the care of the Icelandic Road Administration. mbl.is/Sigurður Bogi
The social cost of traffic accidents in the Múlaþing municipality between 2019 and 2023 is estimated at ISK 15.5 billion, averaging nearly ISK 3.1 billion annually, according to a new report by Efla Consulting Engineers. The majority of this burden—approximately ISK 11.2 billion—is linked to roads managed by the Icelandic Road Administration.
The report was commissioned as part of Múlaþing’s first road safety plan and provides a detailed overview of traffic patterns, accident severity, and proposed safety measures.
Accidents take a heavy toll on society
“Every traffic accident imposes a high cost on society,” the report states. “These costs include not only damage to property but also emergency response, police and rescue services, hospitalization, long-term care, and the loss of productivity.”
Efla emphasizes that preventing accidents will help reduce these costs over time and that the investment in road safety pays off through lower future losses.
Serious accidents on the rise
Between 2014 and 2023, 1,079 accidents were recorded in Múlaþing, the majority of which involved no injuries. However, approximately 222 were classified as serious or involved injuries or fatalities. Around 25% of all accidents occurred within the urban center of the municipality.
While the overall number of accidents has decreased when looking at five-year averages, the severity of accidents—especially those occurring in urban areas—has been increasing.
From 2019 to 2023, 117 accidents were reported in the urban core of Múlaþing. The most common type involved stationary vehicles, followed by single-vehicle crashes, which accounted for 25% of all incidents—five of which involved injuries. Speeding is cited as the likely cause in many of these cases.
Unprotected road users at risk
The report also identifies 22 accidents involving unprotected road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists—many of whom were primary school-aged children. The report stresses the need to improve safety measures for these vulnerable groups, especially on routes to and from schools.
One recommended measure is the installation of "urban gates"—clearly marked entrance points to urban areas designed to alert drivers to changing road conditions and reduce speed.
Accident hotspots identified
The report highlights several locations where the concentration of traffic accidents exceeds normal levels, recommending that these high-risk road sections undergo detailed inspection. All are under the jurisdiction of the Icelandic Road Administration:
- Seyðisfjarðavegur, between Fagradagsfoss Waterfall and Miðhúsaá River
- Fagradalsvegur at the intersection with Mjóafjarðarvegur
- Fagradalsvegur near the Fjarðabyggð municipal boundary
- Axarvegur, particularly where it intersects with the Ring Road at Berufjörður
- The Ring Road at the Jökulsá River bridge, between Skjöldólfsstaðir and Áramótasel
As Múlaþing prepares to implement its road safety plan, the findings from this report will likely play a key role in prioritizing infrastructure upgrades and enforcing speed control.
