After years of debate, the Government finally implemented a points system similar to those in place in the United Kingdom and Spain.
It replaced the previous defunct model where the accumulation of fines was intended to eventually result in the termination of a repeat-offending driver’s licence.
Back in June, it emerged that close to 12,000 drivers in Portugal were on their last strike before losing their licence under the old system.
But six months later, and under the new system none have done so, although eight drivers, who were all pulled over for driving under the influence, awaiting final notice to hand in their licences.
The new points system was introduced in order to combat the inefficiency of the previous system, which showed that only 41 drivers had had to hand in their prized documents in the space of four years.
But with few feeling the effects of the new points system, it has become apparent that it is still experiencing serious teething problems.
According to the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), just over three thousand drivers have lost points since the system was introduced six months ago.
Around half of these drivers lost half of the 12 points, along with the afore-mentioned eight who lost all their points.
About one thousand drivers were docked two points, while six hundred lost four points.
Exceeding the speed limit, driving under the influence and talking on a mobile phone while driving, were the most common offences.
The ANSR revealed that these figures are only provisional, with countless offenders still to be placed on to the system, which would inevitably see many more than the eight drivers losing their licences.
Overall, police issued close to 100,000 fines to drivers for committing serious or very serious offences, which means that only around three percent of all offenders have had points removed.
The decision to introduce the penalty points system was the result of a lengthy evaluation process based on the country’s National Road Safety Strategy while also using comparative analyses made with other countries where similar systems are already in place.
The idea behind a points system in Portugal was first revealed in the National Road Safety Strategy which came into effect in 2008.
According to the Strategy, the penalty points system is justified in that it “raises the degree of awareness and culpability of drivers in relation to their behaviour on the roads and is a system which is easy to understand.”
Under the new system, each serious driving offence will see a driver docked two points, while a very serious infringement knocks off four points.
Road crimes will result in half of all points being taken off a licence.
When a driver is left with only four points, he or she will be forced to attend road safety classes, and should the number drop to two, the driver will be forced to re-take their licence.
Once 12 penalty points have been reached, a driver will, in theory, lose their licence for a period of two years.