The Traffic Police (UP) has the main responsibility for the police's traffic service. UP's societal mission includes traffic safety efforts, crime prevention on the road, as well as assistance and preparedness. They are also the police's professional body related to the development of new methods and equipment used in traffic safety work.
"Our main task is traffic prevention work, and part of that is conducting traffic checks. A typical day will consist of some traffic checks. These can be sobriety checks, where we check for alcohol and other drugs, or speed checks, where we measure the speed of vehicles. Occasionally, we are sent on missions when our assistance is needed." says Hans.
Assistance and preparedness are important tasks in UP. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were sent to help at the borders.
"We stood together with the local police at the borders around Norway and assisted with checks to prevent the spread of infection. Before Christmas, we were in Oslo to assist the Oslo Police District in guarding their objects and embassies," says Hans, who is sitting in the police car while his partner stands outside measuring traffic with a laser meter.
They can largely plan their workdays themselves. They decide where they want to be, when they want to be present, and what they want to do.
"But we do have some goals that we try to achieve, and we need to plan our days to reach those goals. We have a great deal of freedom, under responsibility, to decide how our days will be. This means that almost every day is different."
What would you say motivates you in your job?
"We have a very important societal mission. The government has adopted the so-called Vision Zero. In recent years, over 100 people have died in traffic each year. This is quite serious. The goal is to have no serious injuries or fatalities in traffic. We have no one to lose, so there is a very serious backdrop here. At the same time, it is very motivating to work on."
There are different types of patrols in the Traffic Police with different tasks. Hans and his partner drive a regular uniformed patrol and mostly work with traffic checks along the road. It is also possible to work with intelligence, drive a video car, or a heavy vehicle.
Both those who work with intelligence or video cars drive unmarked vehicles. This means they work undercover and, for example, have the task of filming and catching reckless drivers. Those who drive heavy vehicles mainly check trucks and trailers.
"It is not necessary to have special expertise to work in the Traffic Police, and you receive the necessary training when you are hired," explains Hans.
"To work in the Traffic Police, it is important to show that you are motivated and interested in traffic. It is important to remember that when you work with traffic checks, you will mostly meet ordinary people who may receive fines. Therefore, you should be a bit extra service-minded and friendly."
Do you have any tips for those who want to work in the Traffic Police?
"Show interest in traffic. If you are interested in it and want to work with it, you will go far. There is also nothing wrong with applying multiple times. I did. If you apply multiple times, you also show that you are extra motivated to work with this."