Portugal's National Road Safety Authority has announced the national road death figure for 2014 with a comment that 'you would have to go back to 1950, when there were about 100,000 vehicles on the road, to match a figure of under 500 fatalities.'
With 7 million vehicles now registered in Portugal there were only 480 fatalities in 2014, a decrease of 7.3% compared to 2013.
Provisional data shows a rise in accidents but a drop in fatalities. There were 117,231 reported road accidents, some 1,196 more than in 2013.
The data from the PSP and GNR policing services collated by the National Road Safety Authority shows that 480 people died on the roads in 2014, some 38 fewer than in 2013.
In its new year statement, the National Road Safety Authority pointed out that "it is necessary to go back to 1950 to find less than 500 fatalities," adding that at that time, "there were about 100,000 cars and trucks in circulation, while in 2013 auto insurance figures show around 7,000,000 vehicles.’
Comments
We also have to include the FATAL attribute , due to ongoing safety features within motor manufacturing, thus death rates will still go down , even if crashes actually increase , which is aided over the longer term by affordable pricing of new vehicles ,a variable which is not improved through high taxation in PT and having more old cars on the road if people cant afford new cars.
We also have to use the var from the financial crisis itself , less car journeys , less spendable incomes , higher unemployment being a major variable , and of course population emigration for work.
He / she raises many questions :
What make of car has a forward facing boot lid that opens away from the vehicle? Thereby allowing some stowaway Portuguese (?) slapper to be seen by the driver - who, as always in Portugal, is not focussed on the road ahead.
Or is this a front booted car ? And would not seeing the road ahead seriously slow down the average Portuguese driver ?
Or is he suggesting a Portuguese cut price re-run of the Galaxy choc advert ?
With zero budget - so no crowded bus or overturned farm cart. No 'oily smoothy' taking away the Audrey Hepburn lookalike in the back seat of his rather smart car. Along coastal mountain roads.
To what fate, Audrey? I'm not familiar with these 'oily smoothies' but it may not just be your chocolate he is after !
I'm sure you will be greatly comforted (not!)
To get things in perspective, there are 7 million vehicles in Portugal & there were 517 fatalities in 2013; that's 74 fatalities per million vehicles
There were 35 million vehicles registered in the UK in 2013 & there were 1713 fatalities; that's 49 fatalities per million vehicles
So, you have a 50% higher fatality rate in Portugal than the UK based on vehicle registrations.
I bet these comparative fatality figures would be even worse in Portugal if based on actual mileage driven in the two countries.
Do these statistics surprise me? No
Many Portuguese drivers are a danger to themselves and other road users I regret to say.
They have a lot to learn & are woefully behind more developed countries like the UK when it comes to driving ability and road safety.
The Portuguese National Road Safety Authority should not be content with these latest fatality statistics.
Best be checking your Life Insurance Policy Chip!
As we heard it, the passenger was unfortunately thrown into a ditch. The driver remained trapped in the car unable to speak due to the expanded airbag.
The GNR arrive and prosecuted both Brits - one for leaving the scene of an accident and the other for not assisting the investigation.
The Portuguese, drunk as a lord, was never heard from or seen again.