11 deaths, dozens of serious injuries in 1,635 accidents between Friday and Monday
The run-up to Christmas has already (habitually) been marked by tragedy: 11 people have died, from the ages of 19 to 76, with the principal causes of the 1,635 accidents being speed and excessive consumption of alcohol.
In other words, no matter all the efforts of past years to warn drivers of the dangers of speed and drinking alcohol, they do not appear to be taking the messages in.
According to SIC Notícias this evening, the latest figures from the GNR’s Christmas and New Year Operation refer to 0.00 hours on Friday and midnight on Monday.
Speeding and excess alcohol remain at the top of the list of offences, says the news channel. Authorities counted 650 drivers under the influence of alcohol, more than half of whom had a blood level equal to or greater than 1.2 grams per litre of blood.
In various police operations on major roads, 78 people were also arrested for driving without a legal licence and 1,929 for driving over the speed limit. There were even 136 drivers caught using mobile phones at the wheel, and over 200 found to be driving without the necessary insurance.
The deaths between Friday and Monday resulted from instances where vehicles lost control, various collisions and two accidents where people were run over.
The annual ‘road safety campaign’ will continue through the festive season until January 2. Police stress they will be continuing to “prioritise” checking drivers for being under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs, speeding and using mobile phones at the wheel, while they will also be “attentive” to the correct use of seatbelts, validity of MOTs (periodic vehicle inspections), insurance and general driving practices.
Just as this text went up online, there was news of yet another fatal accident, this time claiming the life of one man driving a quad-bike in the parish of Barreira (Leiria).
Sources: LUSA/ SIC Notícias
