Already 15 people have died on Portugal’s roads over the 2025 festive season. There is still New Year to go – and police are appealing to everyone to be sensible: drive within speed limits; do not drink and then get behind the wheel, or onto a motorbike; do not ‘hurry’.
This is all ‘simple advice’ given year in, year out – and yet the dismal death tolls continue to roll in.
Earlier this week, police revealed they are ‘catching’ one driver over the alcohol limit every half hour. Imagine how many that means are driving over the limit but don’t get pulled over in a ‘routine traffic stop’.
Reports today suggest this year has been ‘particularly tragic on Portuguese roads’: Thirteen men and two women – aged between 21 and 88 – have lost their lives, the majority (nine) in incidents where vehicles ‘left the road’. Four people died in collisions and two (both elderly men) were killed by being run-over.
At least four of the fatalities were motorcyclists, while over 1,000 people have sustained injuries in accidents – 72 of them ‘serious injuries’.
The numbers given here refer to the days between December 18 and 28. There are still quite a few to go. Police stress they will be out in force this year, pulling people over, checking details and breathalysing.
Up to December 26, the combined forces of PSP and GNR police had registered over 700 crimes on the nation’s roads and issued over 13,200 fines and notices. Almost 2,000 drivers had been fined for speeding; 470 for driving over the alcohol limit (0.5gr/ litre) and almost 200 for driving without a valid licence.
NB. Any driver approaching their 50th/ 60th/ 65th or 70th birthday should remember to renew their driving licence. After the age of 70, driving licences have to be renewed every two years. Ignorance of the law is not a legitimate defence.
Sources: Correio da Manhã/ SIC Notícias
