The report released by Portuguese Road Prevention (PRP), a member of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), on accident data in the European Union over the last decade indicates that 495 people died in Portugal during 2020 in road accidents, a 47 percent reduction compared to 2010.

According to the document, deaths on Portuguese roads decreased between 2010 and 2013, followed by six years of slowdown.

“The pandemic year had a significant impact on the overall result, as fatalities decreased by 21 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. The number of serious injuries recorded decreased by 29 percent in the period 2010-2020,” underlines the ETCS.

This organisation also states that “the reduction in travel due to the pandemic of Covid-19 is the main cause of the 17 percent drop in road deaths last year in the European Union”.

According to ETCS, 18,844 people lost their lives in road accidents in the EU in 2020, 10,847 less than in 2010, which represents a 37 percent reduction.