Tiago Petinga / Lusa
The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves
After the high number of deaths on the road during Easter, the Minister of Internal Affairs wants to move forward with a package of measures that includes greater punishments for drivers with risky behavior and the end of advance warnings for STOP operations.
The Government wants to reinforce road safety measures after 20 deaths were recorded during this year’s Easter Operation. In one of his first decisions as the new Minister of Internal Administration, Luis Neves wants to move forward with a package of measures that includes the worsening of punishments for risky behaviorsuch as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous maneuvers.
According to advances, it is also planned to improvement of road infrastructurewith the logic that better conditions must be accompanied by greater responsibility for drivers.
Among the proposals is also the end of prior disclosure of STOP operations. Currently, these actions are announced on the security forces’ social networks and in official communications, indicating locations and dates, a practice that the Government considers could reduce the effectiveness of inspection.
The measures will be integrated into the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 — Vision Zero 2030, whose development has been delayed since the end of the previous plan in 2020. The Ministry of Internal Affairs intends to accelerate its implementation, including the still missing action plan.
At the beginning of April, the National Road Safety Authority and Infraestruturas de Portugal signed a commitment that provides reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries by at least 50% by 2030, with the final goal of zero victims by 2050. To achieve this, an investment of around R$224 million is planned.
Despite a 6% reduction in the total number of deaths in 2025, with 448 victims, the most recent traffic accident data reveals worrying signs. Since the beginning of this year 133 people have already died on Portuguese roads35 more than in the same period last year. The number of accidents also increased, exceeding 41 thousand by the beginning of April.
At a European level, Portugal remains above average, with 29% more fatalities per million inhabitants.
