. The authority’s findings are based on data gathered from Portugal’s PSP and GNR police forces.

Fatalities were thus up 9.9% year-on-year against a 5.3% rise in road accidents.

A total of 68,845 accidents were logged between January and July this year, up 3,472 on the first seven months of 2014.

Fatalities include those who either died at the site of the accident or en route to hospital.