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Road safety in Portugal

Cheryl

Hello everyone,

Navigating roads and experiencing traffic in Portugal as an expat can be a learning experience. We invite you to share your insights in order to help other expats and soon-to-be expats stay safe on the road in Portugal, whether driving, cycling or just crossing the street.

Are traffic rules strictly respected or enforced in Portugal?

Are there any unspoken rules, unexpected habits or regulations that you had to adapt to?

Are the roads safe and well-maintained?

Are there specific times of day, weather conditions, or seasons that make driving more dangerous?

If you have children, do you feel comfortable letting them travel alone on local roads, whether on foot, by bike, or motorbike?

What are your tips or advice to stay safe on the roads in Portugal?

Share your insights and experience.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
½ûÂþÌìÌà Team

See also

Living in Portugal: the expat guideWhy do Portuguese just trash their own cuntry ?Most common scams in PortugalD7 visa results"Comotado" agreement template
TGCampo

The European Road Safety Observatory publishes a National Road Safety Profile for all countries including Portugal. This is the hyperlink for Portugal.


I assume that this information is pretty good, but it is of 2021. The highlights mentioned are below.


Road safety outcomes

• In 2019 a total of 688 people were killed in reported traffic accidents in Portugal.

• Portugal is 6th out of 27 EU countries in terms of the highest numbers of fatalities per

million inhabitants.

• Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Portugal shows a relatively

high proportion of fatalities on urban roads.

• Over the past ten years the number of fatalities on motorways has decreased more than

in the European Union.

Road safety performance indicators

• Portugal has the highest self-reported helmet wearing rate for cyclists compared to other

European countries.

• The Portuguese road infrastructure is characterized by relatively low road density. Its

quality is perceived as very high compared to other EU countries.

Road safety policy and measures

• Enforcement of motor cycle helmet legislation is more widely perceived as effective in

comparison to other countries


My personal experience is that I see lots of drivers under the influence of alcohol, using their mobile phones while driving and ignoring traffic signs (stop or give way). After a few years one gets used to this and tries to stay safe.

Vidanova

Just some observations:


Roads are maintained very well when compared to the UK for example. But beware, when they dig a road up for pipework, they will fill it in with hardcore and leave it like that for weeks so that passing traffic will compact it before they fill it with asphalt. Not good for your tires or fillings!


The major highways and toll roads are very quiet except for the cities, nothing like the major European cities though.


When driving on rural roads, when you enter a town or village (Urban area), then from the entrance sign (name of the village) to the exit sign it is 50 kph though there are no signs dictating this. It is rarely policed but they may have a cop with a radar gun from time to time. Sometimes these zones may have radar activated traffic lights to slow you down.


Some drivers may drive well below the speed limit especially Sundays when they are full of wine which can be frustrating others will drive well above it, even overtaking dangerously only to stop for a coffee 500 meters down the road.


Parking on roundabouts is common, so is parking on pavements, well parking anywhere that suits really. As the previous poster mentioned, distracted driving, phones and alcohol are a concern.


In an urban area a driver in front of you may stop to chat with someone at the side of the road or even a driver coming the other way, it is polite to give them 30 seconds before giving them the horn. If you are stopped at a traffic light and it turns green then you have to react like Lewis Hamilton or Mad Max, if you are half a second slow you will get the horn even if someone is still on the crosswalk. Take it with a pinch of salt.


There are not speed cameras every few hundred meters like in the UK, they are very rare here, only on major highways and are well marked in advance with a sign warning you, observe signs and you will not get fined. Some record actual speed others average speed.


You may be pulled over by cops, usually on a roundabout to check paperwork, so have your drivers licence, insurance and car documents and inspection certificate and you will be ok if they are in order.


There are toll roads, if renting a car make sure they give you a transponder. If you own cars then get a transponder for each then you can drive through the Via Verde gate without stopping and under electronic gantries without worrying how on earth are you going to pay for the electronic ones.


Driving here is not difficult or dangerous, the roads are quiet, just have your wits about you at roundabouts and junctions and think for the other drivers around you. Use your mirrors and indicators, even if some other drivers don't.


If you would like to travel Portugal and Spain as we do often, we avoid highways and tolls so we see all the smaller towns and villages, don't buy an all electric car, you will soon wish you hadn't!