No Road Deaths In Greenland’s Capital

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 22

No Road Deaths In Greenland’s Capital

(N.ZTji.-Reuter) GODTHAAB (Greenland). The administrative capital of the world’s biggest island has one of the slowest road speed limits of any capital in the world. And it is probably the oply capital without a fatal traffic accident on record.

For trucks and lorries, the maximum speed is 30 kilometres (about 19 miles) an hour, while private cars can “raise the dust" at a maxi*, mum 40 kilometres (25 miles) an hour. With these speed limits and only 10 kilometres (six miles) of mostly unmade road on which to drive, traffic accidents are rare. Greenland's Public Prosecutor (Mr Joergen Hertling), says if they do happen, it is usually the result of driving mixed with drinking. Roads are rare and costly in Greenland. Every yard has to be blasted out of solid rock by explosives, and all materials used for construction work have to be.brought by ship from far-away Denmark. Cost of roadbuilding combined with the heavy winter snows have forced Greenland to jump directly from dog sled to aeroplane for transport of passengers and all but the heaviest cargo. Motor vehicles are used almost exclusively for short hauls, delivering goods from airport or harbour to local destinations. For this reason, local authorities have not found It necessary to register motor vehicles. Greenland has no number plates. Each vehicle is known by all the inhabitants of the town where it operates. . . Aircraft Used While feet remain the commonest form of transport in the tiny settlements which have grown up along the jagged coastline, aircraft are bearing an increasing number of passengers between the towns. Greenland’s own airline. Greenlandair, is probably the smallest commercial airline in existence, it has three aircraft—two Catalines and'one Otter. Founded in November, 1960, by Danish and Scandinavian capital (induditig the Scandinavian Airlines System), the airline now has eight domestic routes with twelve stations. In 1962 the airline carried a total of 6000 passengers on scheduled routes, and notched up a total of 1300 flying hours. Company spokesmen- expected a “considerable" increase in operations during 1963, as more , and more passengers are flying in Greenland instead of taking the slower way by coastal ship. In addition to its regular routes. Greenlandair also car, ried out charter flights to United States radar bases in Greenland in 1962, and ferried, by helicopter, scientists taking - part in a summer geological research trip. Grotesque Vehicles At present amphibian aircraft are essential for most flights in Greenland, as only the larger towns have any form of landing strip. The future, in the view of Greenlandair officials, pointe towards much wider use of the helicopter. While air and sea transport dominate in the Banish or civilian section of Greenland, the .United States mintary forces have developed grotesque looking but highly effective methods of land transport for their own purposes. Highly specialised tractordrawn trains, (called “swings" in Arctie slang)

( Antic s

have earned a reputation as unbeatable transport across the powdery snow which forms the inland ice cap. To feed Camp Century, the nuclear reactor-powered towh built under the inland ice cap east of the United States Ait Base at Thule, a uniqpe transport apparatus is required. Changeable weather makes ait transport uncertain. A sudden storm can ground all aircraft for weeks. Land transport, using vehicles which can stay out in even the hardest storm, had to be developed. Huge Wheels The Swing was the result A high-powered tractor, in which the motor is heated instead of cooled, draws a string of ungainly trailers which ride on huge ten-foot diameter wheels. These and king-sized sledges, also drawn by tractors, carried exerything needed to construct Camp ; Century across the inland ice cap. ■■■ If bad weather should come, the trip can take several weeks, and therefore each Swing must Include a “hotel car” able to supply sleeping quarters and shelter to all the people on the Swing. • ‘ - For passenger transport, ungainly looking buses fitted with caterpillar treads do service. These vehicles would also be of military importance in Arctic warfare, being able to speed across snow which would stop almost any type of vehicle.