GNR personnel will be on ‘intensified road patrol duty’ this coming weekend in an operation designed to coincide with the rise in traffic due to the annual Dia dos Mortos (Day of the Dead.)
The kind thoughts expressed in the statement from the GNR’s National Traffic Unit belie the rapacious intent to rake in money from as many fines as possible.
The roadside checks are, "in order to regulate traffic and ensure support to all road users that at this time of year are travelling from their countries of origin to visit the graves of their loved ones."
During the weekend operation, the GNR "will carry out preventive actions in order to combat road accidents and personnel will pay particular attention to the following offences and crimes-
"Driving under the influence of alcohol and psychotropic substances, speeding (much the same thing), the lack or improper use of seat belts and restraint systems for children, driving while on the phone, and driving without a license."
Last year over the Day of the Dead weekend the GNR attended 514 road accidents, which resulted in 5 people joining the celebrations in an terminal and unexpected manner, 18 seriously injured and 164 with minor injuries.
On the Dia dos Mortos, the Portuguese take chrysanthemums or other flowers to the graves of dead relatives, say prayers, tidy up graves and lay down the flowers along with cinnamon cakes.