According to a European report, Portugal is among the six countries with the highest number of road traffic fatalities in 2023, remaining below the European average.
Statistics published this Wednesday by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) show that Portugal recorded 60 road deaths per million inhabitants last year, ranking sixth from the bottom of the table with 32 countries. .
According to the report, the highest death rates in 2023 were in Bulgaria and Romania, with 82 and 81 road deaths per million inhabitants respectively, while the countries with the fewest deaths were Norway and Sweden.
ANSR states that Portugal recorded a 1.5% increase in road traffic fatalities in 2023 compared to the previous year, although this is significantly lower than in 2022 compared to 2021 (11.1%).
“If we take 2019 as a basis, then in 2023 the number of fatalities in Portugal decreased by 4.2% compared to the same year,” the Portuguese agency points out, emphasizing that the report shows that Portugal has recorded a decrease in road deaths . although below the European average and still far from achieving European Union targets.
Last year there were almost 35,000 road accidents in Portugal, resulting in 468 deaths and 2,437 serious injuries.
New ETSC statistics show that 20,418 people died on EU roads in 2023, just 1% less than in 2022, “a figure that falls well short of the 6.1% annual reduction needed to meet the EU reduction target.” number of deaths.” by 50% by 2030,” according to ANSR.
Following last week’s European elections, the ETSC is calling for the creation of an EU road safety agency with specific powers such as managing the use of automated vehicles and conducting accident investigations.
While other major modes of transport in Europe (air, sea and rail) have dedicated EU agencies responsible for safety, road transport has no such agency.
ETSC also calls on the European Commission to begin work on a new review of vehicle safety regulations to take into account the rapid development of safety technologies, and to continue reforms to periodic vehicle inspections to ensure that these technologies are maintained throughout the life of the vehicles.
On the occasion of the publication of the ETSC report, it was also announced that Finland has been awarded the 2024 European Transport Safety Council Award for Outstanding Progress in Road Safety.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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