Another Easter has brought carnage on the country’s roads. In the last week, no less than 18 people have been killed in more than 2,000 accidents that have also resulted in 42 serious injuries, and 668 minor ones.
Between midnight on Thursday and midnight last night, GNR (non-urban) police recorded no less than 584 accidents, resulting in 12 deaths, 22 serious injuries and 164 minor injuries.
According to the GNR’s statement, which provides provisional data from the operation, 22,022 drivers have been inspected so far, with 199 people arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than 1.2 g/l, and 59 for driving without a legal license;
A total of 3,619 traffic violations have been flagged, including 669 for speeding, 649 for lack of mandatory periodic inspection, and 97 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Also recorded were 148 violations for lack of mandatory civil liability insurance and 131 for lack of or incorrect use of seat belts and/or child restraint systems (CRS), and 129 for improper use of mobile phones while driving.
Regarding fatal accidents, yesterday saw two in the GNR’s sphere of influence: on the EN 13, in the town of Afife, in the district of Viana do Castelo, between a motorcycle and a light vehicle, which caused the death of a 58-year-old man, and on the EN 125, in Luz de Tavira, Faro district, between a moped and a light vehicle, which caused the death of a 63-year-old man. Another three deaths however were recorded, according to SIC Notícias today (possibly after the GNR’s statement was released, or in areas monitored by PSP police).
In its operation “Police Always Present: Safe Easter 2026”, the PSP (Public Security Police) has made 952 arrests, of which 548 were for road traffic offenses, 305 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 184 for driving without a valid license.
According to the PSP’s latest statement, 67 suspects have been arrested for property crimes (theft, robbery and fraud) and 102 for drug trafficking, with more than 11,871 individual doses of drugs seized.
During the same week-long period, 363 incidents of domestic violence were recorded, and 17 suspects were arrested for this crime.
In the context of road safety prevention and enforcement actions, 15,671 drivers were inspected and 40,844 vehicles monitored by radar. In addition to 548 arrests for road traffic offences, 4,376 traffic violation notices were issued, mostly for speeding (614), lack of mandatory periodic inspection (513), and lack of civil liability insurance (241), among others.
Regarding road accidents, during the same period the PSP (Public Security Police) recorded 1,424 accidents, resulting in 524 injuries (20 serious injuries and 504 minor injuries) and six deaths (since March 27).
Both police forces ‘Operation Easter’ initiatives will end tomorrow, when the full details of this year’s campaign will be published.
Source material: LUSA/ SIC
