During the first year of the new points system for driving offences, not a single driver has lost his license.
Road deaths rose by 8%, a slight increase in the last 12 months, with 462 people losing their lives as a result of road traffic accidents, an increase of 35 victims.
The road traffic accident rate was down, according to the National Road Safety Authority, with 124,035 accidents between June 1st, 2016 and May 27th, 2017, down 697 from the previous 12 months.
The authority said the first year of the new points based system for traffic offences had been positive, as "the objectives are being achieved and that drivers are internalising and adopting driving behavior in accordance with road rules and road signs."
But not a single driver was taken off the road in the first year of the new 'points' system, despite 19 cases brought against drivers to have their licenses removed.
One driver facing a two year ban went to court and escaped the penalty. According to the National Road Safety Authority, 27 drivers had lost all 12 of their starter points and 19 were subject to legal proceedings to have their license taken away. But every case was contested and no bans have been enforced.
Some small cheer that 12 drivers have been told they must go on a road safety training course, but as they have 180 days in which to attend, only four so far have turned up.
See also: 'Portugal's new points-based driving offence system starts on June 1st'
