In a statement, the authorities state that during the Christmas season this year, there were 307 fewer accidents than in the same period of 2022. The total number of accidents resulted in 1,492 injuries, 137 more than in the same period last year.

Of these 1.492 injuries, 80 were serious (same as in 2022) and 1,412 were minor (137 more than in 2022).

The 17 fatalities recorded resulted from accidents in the districts of Beja (3), Portalegre (3), Coimbra (2) and Setúbal (2), in Braga, Leiria, Lisbon, Porto, Santarém, Vila Real and the autonomous region of the Azores, one death each was recorded.

No fatalities were recorded in the remaining districts of the country – Aveiro, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Viana do Castelo and Viseu – and in the autonomous region of Madeira.

The fatal accidents occurred on the national road network (12), between national roads (7), motorways (3), main routes (2), on the municipal network (49, in the streets (3), municipal roads (1), and on the Azores road network (1).

Compared to the same period in 2022, accidents decreased by 0.6 percent, while the total number of victims increased by 10.3 percent.

Between December 15 and December 26, 7.2 million vehicles were inspected, either in person, by the GNR and PSP, or through radar control by the Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária (ANSR).

Among the vehicles inspected, 48,900 infractions were recorded, mainly related to speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, which led to the arrest of 681 people.

Until January 2, 2024, the road safety campaign “O melhor presente é estar presente” will be active, an initiative by ANSR, in partnership with GNR, PSP and more than 240 entities, which appeals to all Portuguese citizens who will be travelling during New Year’s festivities, to “adopt safe behaviour on the road, such as travelling without rushing, without alcohol, without cell phones and stopping to rest”.