Norway has a lot to recommend it – breathtaking scenery, great food and friendly people. So even if you are driving for business, Norway is a more attractive place to drive than others with less varied terrain. It is also a user-friendly country to drive in – but there are a number of rules and customs that drivers should be aware of before they take to Norwegian roads.

There are around 2.5 million registered private cars in Norway, which covers 323,802 km². This is comparable in size to the UK, which has 28 million cars on the road but covers 243,610 km². So traffic density in Norway is comparatively low.

The first thing to be aware of is the general speed limit for cars is 80km/h. On motorways it is either 90 or 100km/h and in built up areas as low as 30km/h. Traffic calming speed humps are not always signposted.

Another important factor to consider is the drink-drive limit is very low – 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. Naturally, the best advice is simply don’t drink and drive at all.

As is the case with many countries now, it is obligatory for vehicles to drive with dipped headlights at all times. If you are taking a right hand drive car with you, it will need black adhesive triangles on your headlights, or clip-on beam deflectors to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

If you will be driving in Norway in winter, your car must be equipped with winter tyres, which can be with or without studs. Studded tyres are permitted from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Sunday.

In terms of in-car equipment, it is compulsory to have at least one high-visibility vest in your car in Norway. And in the event of a breakdown you must display a red warning triangle in the road.

As you would expect, you will need to carry a full valid driving licence from your issuing country. And if you plan to hire a car while you’re in Norway, you will need to have held your full licence for at least a year.

Although traffic is usually light and sparse, traffic jams naturally occur in and around Oslo. Do note that in Oslo, trams have right of way over all other traffic, including pedestrians.

Norway has an excellent safety record, and as such road rules are very strictly enforced. Aggressive driving such as risky overtaking can lead to police issuing you with a fine of between €100 and €1,000, so do beware.

Other useful pointers are that you should always yield to traffic coming from the right unless signs say otherwise, regardless of whether it’s a major or minor road; you must always stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing; your car horn should be used only in emergencies; and you should leave a three second gap between your car and the car in front.

We’ve talked a lot about rules and regulations; but it’s important to say that many who have driven in Norway, especially in the fjord areas, describe the experience as incredible.