Careless whale watchers risk DKK 1,000 fine

About a week ago, road signs were set up along a road near Tórshavn that has been the subject of repeated traffic safety violations.

As you may have read last week, this is to warn drivers against stopping abruptly to watch three bottlenose whales that have been putting on an adorable show in the Kaldbaksfjørður inlet for the past month.

Døglingur, Døglingar, (mynd: Bjarni R)

 >> SEE ALSO Jumping whales stop traffic

“The signs inform drivers that they are not allowed to stop and park their cars at the side of the road. Most locals appear to have understood the message, but many tourists haven’t. We do what we can to explain the situation to them,” says a police spokesman.

jumping_whales.jpg

Caption: 

Stopping your car at the side of the Kaldbaksfjørður road may soon result in a fine

“As this is a natural phenomenon that has not occurred in the Faroes before, we are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to the situation. But if the violations continue, we may start handing out DKK 1,000 fines.”

He adds that there have been numerous potential accidents, especially with people driving into Tórshavn, stopping their car and then crossing the road to watch the whales.

Døglingur, Døglingar

“We receive many calls from drivers who say they feel unsafe driving on the Kaldbaksfjørður road. Some drivers say they have had to swerve to avoid hitting a pedestrian. Luckily, though, no real accidents have occurred so far.”

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

Translated by prosa.fo.

More Faroese News in English.