[iceland news] no fatal traffic accidents this year

This blog adores Icelandic news. As Euroserf once commented, "In the middle of a hectic day of a hectic life, Iceland seems somehow peacefully inviting doesn't it?" Now here's their latest classic:

No one has been killed in traffic in Iceland in the first two months of 2007. In January and February last year four people lost their lives in traffic accidents, and on average in 2006, one person died in traffic every 12 days. “The goal of the road safety plan of the government is that there will be no more fatal traffic accidents in Iceland than in countries where the situation is best,” stated an announcement from the Road Traffic Directorate.

“It is important to continue this development by respecting speed limits, using safety equipment in cars and using it right, and do everything we can to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol and other euphoric substances,” the announcement continued. Furthermore, it was stated: “2006 was the second worst year regarding fatal accidents in Iceland in 25 years. A civilized nation cannot accept that.”

I don't know what it is about Iceland - is it the provincial nature of their largely non-news, presented seriously and fully attributed, even down to "Morganbladdid said this"? Or is it the quaint English, such as 'euphoric substances' in the above post? Or is it the amazing Icelandic names such as Bjorgolfur Gudmansson and Vilhjalmur Th. Vilhjamsson?

Or the quaint thinking processes? I once wrote to Iceland Review, asking if they were serious and had a very prim and proper reply but the niceness of the lady made me feel a cynical, curmudgenonly heel and I vowed never to take the p--s again. And yet here are some classics which can bring tears to the eyes:

Icelandic bitch has record number of puppies;

German author publishes fantasy novel about Iceland;

… and these stories demanded their own posts:

[icelandic pervert] window peeper busted in akureyri

[bloody vikings] no spam for these boys

My favourite though was a two paragaph post trying to beat up the fact that it was + 17 degrees at the start of summer. It concluded:

Many people have taken the day off. This explains why not much is happening in the country, as you can see from the lack of news.