Portugal plans 30 kph city speed limit

Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-13 00:48:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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LISBON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Portugal plans to reduce speed limits to 30 km per hour (kph) in urban areas, a government spokesman announced on Friday.

The minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita told Antena 1 radio station that the measure was a response to road deaths having reached "absolutely unacceptable" levels in Portugal.

In 2017, 509 people died on the roads in mainland Portugal, 64 more than in 2016.

Among the fatalities, 76 people died after being run over. Reducing the speed limit in cities from the current 50 kph aims to tackle this problem in particular.

Besides road deaths, there were a further 2,181 serious injuries resulting from 130,157 road accidents, compared to the previous year.

The National Authority for Road Safety said the spike in numbers was largely a result of an increase in motorcycle accidents.

To this end, Cabrita announced plans for stricter roadworthiness inspections and a specific motorcycle driver's license.

In 2000, Portugal had the highest road fatality rate in Europe, according to the International Road Traffic and Accident Database. Improved safety measures saw figures fall by 40 percent through to 2016. The 2017 tally therefore represents a major setback.

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