Bahia roadworks and motorcycle crash data raise safety concerns

Partial roadworks and maintenance projects on the BA‑093, BA‑099, BA‑526 and BA‑874 highways serving the metropolitan area of Salvador will remain in effect until Saturday, 2 March. The concessions Bahia Norte and Litoral Norte have implemented lane closures, “pare e siga” (stop‑and‑go) operations and drainage cleaning, urging drivers to obey signage, reduce speed and plan routes. Emergency contact numbers 0800 600 0093 (Bahia Norte) and 0800 071 3233 (Litoral Norte) are provided for assistance.

An internal safety study by Austra Vias shows that one in three accidents on these highways involves motorcycles, with 31 % of incidents on Bahia Norte and 41 % on Litoral Norte. Collisions with other vehicles account for the majority of these crashes. The report highlights driver inattention, loss of control and illegal maneuvers as leading causes and stresses shared responsibility between motorcyclists and other road users. To mark Motorcyclist Day, the Camaçari Traffic and Public Transport Superintendence, together with Boulevard Shopping Camaçari, hosted a safety‑awareness event featuring alcohol‑and‑drug effect simulators, blood‑pressure checks and educational outreach.