Road safety news in Portugal

Traffic on the A2 motorway is restricted near Alcácer do Sal in the direction of Lisbon due to urgent repairs on an expansion joint. The motorway operator, Brisa, has limited vehicles to the left lane at kilometer 80 and advises drivers to exercise caution.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has urged for a change in road safety culture, stating that the country cannot accept traffic fatalities as an inevitability. Speaking at a centenary event for volunteer firefighters, he highlighted the high number of accidents and deaths recorded on national roads in recent years.

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, announced that the government is finalizing a new Highway Code (Código da Estrada) which may classify driving at speeds of 180 km/h or higher as a criminal offense rather than a traffic violation. The new code, currently 70% complete, also aims to improve road safety through increased speed cameras and surprise police checks.

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves expressed concern over a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths, with 31 fatalities recorded in the first half of 2026. This figure represents a 121.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025, prompting the government to promise more unpredictable police enforcement on roads.

The number of fatalities on Portuguese roads in 2025 has reached levels not seen since a decade ago, indicating a lack of progress in road safety efforts.

The Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge or INSA) reported 680 excess deaths in Portugal during three periods this summer. The highest mortality spike occurred between July 2 and July 8, coinciding with an extreme heatwave that health authorities say aggravated pre-existing conditions, particularly among those aged 75 and older. Separately, data shows that road mortality has remained stagnant over the last decade, with 589 road deaths recorded in 2025.

Over the past decade, the National Speed Control System (Sistema Nacional de Controlo de Velocidade or SINCRO) has detected more than 3.6 million speeding offences. Managed by the National Road Safety Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária or ANSR), the system saw a record high of over 671,000 fines in 2023, though numbers have declined since. Despite this downward trend, recent data indicates an increase in road accidents and fatalities compared to last year.

The main road IP3 remains closed in both directions in Penacova nearly 20 hours after a truck spilled resin onto the pavement. Authorities have not provided a reopening time, and traffic is currently being diverted to the National Road 2 (Estrada Nacional 2 or EN2).

The main road IP3 has reopened to traffic between the nodes of Adiça, Tondela, and Santa Comba Dão. The route was closed for several hours on Monday afternoon due to a fire involving a heavy goods vehicle, which reportedly suffered tire issues. Emergency crews, including 65 firefighters, responded to the incident to extinguish the blaze.

The Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões or ASF) estimates that 121,000 vehicles are currently circulating on Portuguese roads without mandatory liability insurance. This figure, derived from cross-referencing inspection data from the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP), highlights a significant risk for road safety. The regulator warns that driving without insurance is not a residual issue and carries serious consequences for offenders involved in accidents.

During a special road safety operation surrounding the Santos Populares festivities in Lisbon, the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) arrested 66 drivers for operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Officers inspected approximately 3,000 vehicles, detecting a total of 264 drivers with excess blood alcohol levels. The operation, which involved 164 officers, took place over four hours in the early hours of Sunday.

Starting August 31st, all traffic fines in Portugal will be processed through a new digital system. The National Road Safety Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária or ANSR) confirmed the change, which aims to streamline enforcement and reduce the expiration of fines.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) arrested 100 drivers over the weekend for exceeding the criminal blood alcohol limit. This enforcement follows recent directives from the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, to improve road safety. Additionally, the PSP arrested nine individuals in Lisbon's Cais do Sodré for targeting tourists with fake drug scams.

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, is expected to announce the reactivation of a dedicated traffic brigade within the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR). This measure is part of a new national strategy to reduce road accidents, which will also include an increase in speed cameras and updated traffic regulations by the end of the year.

Following a significant increase in road fatalities during the Easter period, the government is preparing a new package of safety measures. Official records show 20 deaths and 53 serious injuries from 2,600 accidents reported over the holiday, a sharp rise in severity compared to previous years. The Ministry of Internal Administration (Ministério da Administração Interna or MAI) stated that these figures demand serious reflection and urgent action.

The ongoing Easter road safety operations conducted by the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) have recorded 18 deaths and 42 serious injuries since Thursday. Internal Administration Minister Luís Neves expressed regret over the figures, urging drivers to exercise caution and avoid distractions. Meanwhile, a video showing Prime Minister Luís Montenegro traveling in a car without a seatbelt has sparked public controversy.

Update: Easter road fatalities reach 18 with high accident volume

The death toll has reached 18, with authorities reporting over 2,000 total accidents during the holiday period. Five of these fatalities occurred within the last 24 hours alone, matching the total death count recorded for the entire duration of last year's operation.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) reported 13 deaths and nearly 2,000 accidents during their respective Easter road safety operations. The GNR recorded ten fatalities, including a family of four, while the PSP reported three deaths in over 1,300 accidents. Authorities also conducted extensive driver inspections, resulting in numerous arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Update: Easter road fatalities rise to 16

The death toll from the Easter road safety operations has risen to at least 16, according to the latest reports from the PSP and GNR. Authorities also noted over 600 drivers were caught speeding and 81 individuals were detained for driving under the influence of alcohol.

A head-on collision involving three vehicles on the IC1 road in Santiago do Cacém resulted in four deaths on Friday. The victims, all members of a German family, included two parents and their two minor children. A 69-year-old individual was also seriously injured and transported by helicopter to a hospital in Lisbon.