Among the 40 measures planned is the increase in areas with a 30 kilometer per hour limit and the redesign of streets to separate car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
The Government generally approved the National Road Safety Strategy – Vision Zero 2030, a plan that foresees more than 40 measures aimed at drastically reducing the number of accidents on Portuguese roads.
The strategy sets as objective reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries by 50% on the roads by 2030, aiming to achieve zero fatalities and zero serious injuries by 2050. According to government estimates, meeting these targets could save around 2,250 lives and generate economic savings of more than 20 billion euros by the end of the decade.
Among the measures planned, the creation of more zones with a maximum speed limit of 30 kilometers per hourespecially in urban areas with high circulation of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users, reports . Speed is considered one of the main risk factors and plays a central role in the new strategy.
The plan also foresees the redesign of streets and roads to make them safer and “self-explanatory”, through elimination or protection of obstaclesseparating different types of traffic and creating conditions that reduce the severity of accidents. At the same time, actions to combat risky behaviors will be reinforced, such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving and fatigue.
Another of the challenges identified is the aging of the Portuguese automotive fleet. The document considers that the high average age of vehicles limits the use of modern safety technologies and advocates policies that encourage fleet renewal.
In responding to accidents, the strategy also proposes the reduction of rescue timesthrough better coordination between entities and strengthening data collection on injuries and rehabilitation processes.
The diagnosis carried out points out accidents within the locations as one of the biggest concernshaving been responsible for more than half of the deaths recorded between 2010 and 2019. Outside of urban centers, higher speeds favor frontal collisions and skids, mainly affecting occupants of passenger vehicles.
