Many accidents in a few days, this Easter. The poor condition of the road is the cause of only 2% of accidents.
This Easter was particularly deadly in Portuguese roads: only until Sunday, 18 dead (more than triple last year), 2,000 more accidents, practically 700 injuries – 42 of which are serious injuries.
A scenario, admitted the GNR, that led, for example, the Minister of Internal Administration to leave one: drive responsibly.
“On this Easter day and back home, I make a very strong appeal. Slow down. Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol. Avoid distractions. No trip is worth a life”, Luís Neves.
Two of the four factors that most often cause accidents are summarized in the minister’s appeal: alcohol e distractions.
In addition to these two, the speed and the tiredness are the other two most common origins, warns the president of Portuguese Road Prevention, Alain Areal.
“They are the choices of one’s own driver. If you choose to drive at high speed, if you choose to drive after drinking alcohol, if you choose to drive with your cell phone or other systems that cause distraction, or if you decide to take trips at a time when you have had little sleep, or after large meals, all of this influences the task of driving.”
In , Alain points out that there are several international studies that point to an obvious direction: Human behavior is the origin of 94% of accidents.
So what about poor condition of roads? Only originates 2% of accidents.
To reinforce road safety, to stop these numbers, one of the ways is education “very early on in the schools”, with programs for young people “integrated in driving risk awareness, introduction of these contents in driving teaching, awareness campaigns”.
Another suggestion is to introduce “some rehabilitation of offending drivers.”
Os equipment would also make a difference, believes the leader of Portuguese Road Prevention: linked to vehicle ignition and only allowing the vehicle to start if the driver is within the established blood alcohol levels. A system that blocks cars from drunk drivers.
