ZAP
Pay R$3,000 for driving with alcohol, changes in teaching, training for those who have had their license for over 25 years.
The Government announced last week that a document is coming, a document that will bring together “all the scattered diplomas” approved over the last few years, commented the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves.
The Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP) proposed this Wednesday a “structural reform” of the Highway Codewith a “substantial increase in fines and penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol”.
The ACP proposes “zero tolerance” (0.0g/l) of alcohol to professional drivers, emergency and probationary regime (currently the tolerance is 0.2 g/l), and the increase in fines from 0.2 g/l for other drivers, with penalties between R$250 and 3000 euros, depending on the rate, which currently has a minimum of 0.5, with revocation of the title in case of crime or repeat offense.
Or use of cell phone driving would have fines between 500 euros and 1250 euros.
The entity defends the mandatory use of helmet for users of bicycles, motor cycles and electric mobility, changes in driving education, as well as mandatory training for those with licenses for over 25 years.
The ACP suggests banning entry into public transport of all vehicles with an electric motor.
Other suggested measures include a maximum speed of 30km/h within a perimeter of 150 meters near schools and hospitals, the prohibition of transporting children under 12 years of age on motorcycles and the national harmonization of parking rules at electric charging stations, with severe penalties for improper occupation.
The proposal also provides for the obligation to medical evaluation face-to-face for all license revalidations and the creation of testing zones regulated by the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) for autonomous vehicles (capable of traveling without a driver).
Teaching
The ACP also argues that security begins at the infancy, proposing the introduction of road safety modules in pre-school and 1st cycle education and a mandatory road safety subject in the 2nd and 3rd cycles, within the scope of Citizenship Education, with pedagogical responsibility of the National Authority for Road Safety (ANSR).
In driving education, the ACP proposes the mandatory introduction of risk perception content in theoretical and practical classes, in addition to the end of the mandatory manual changes for category B.
Driving accompanied by one already approved by the Government – must be limited to places closed to traffic, defined by municipalities, maintaining the rigor of training hours at a driving school.
To motorcycles, The ACP proposes mandatory practical training for B license holders who intend to drive 125cc vehicles and the end of self-application for category A.
For the ACP, “a central measure” is updating knowledge, considering that All those registered for more than 25 years must undergo training mandatory and free provision guaranteed by ANSR, a rule also extended to drivers with multiple serious infractions.
“After 25 years, the road environment is completely different. The signs have nothing to do with when many people got their license. Therefore, it is a necessary refresher to refresh knowledge”, explains Carlos Barbosa, president of the ACP, on the radio.
With regard to the exams, the ACP suggests the use of electronic detectors to prevent fraud, the abolition of fixed routes and GPS monitoring in practical tests.
on TV
In the transport area, focused on vehicles for Individual and Paid Transport of Passengers in Uncharacterized Vehicles (TVDE), the ACP proposes “more rigorous measures to guarantee the quality of service and safety, such as mandatory proof of Portuguese for foreign drivers (level A1), the presentation of criminal records from the country of origin and the completion of a practical driving test”.
“People have to know how to speak Portuguesepeople have to know that they know how to drive, because there are many who we don’t know if they know how to drive or not because they ask for a Nepalese license and that is exchanged for a Portuguese license and there is no exam of any kind, there is no confrontation with that. And, therefore, it is very important that the drivers who are registered and who you see more and more from other countries not only know how to drive, but also know how to speak Portuguese”, says Carlos Barbosa.
Furthermore, it advocates the “quick creation” of a platform that simultaneously records all services provided to different operators for effective control of working time.
“Punch on the table”
The ACP recalls that the last “major reform” of the Highway Code occurred in 2005 and highlights that “the road environment has changed radically with technology and new types of users, requiring an urgent update”, since road accidents have been increasing, remaining above the European measure.
These new proposals will be presented to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
On Renascença radio, Carlos Barbosa supports the new minister, Luís Neves: “Finally, we have a minister who gave a punch on the table. So far, we’ve only heard strategy talk, but nothing has happened. Finally, after the Easter massacre, there is a minister who puts order and says enough is enough.”
