Bonito restricts nighttime health vehicle travel after accidents

The Bonito City Hall, through its Municipal Health Secretariat, has implemented new restrictions on the nighttime return of health vehicles to improve safety for patients and drivers. This decision follows six accidents involving health department vehicles recorded in 2026.

Five of these accidents occurred on highways during the night or early morning hours due to collisions with animals on the road. The sixth incident involved a municipal pickup truck in the urban area of Campo Grande. While several vehicles were involved, including ambulances and a third-party van, no injuries were reported in these occurrences.

Mayor Josmail Rodrigues has decreed that patients discharged from hospitals in other cities during the late afternoon or night will no longer be permitted to return to Bonito immediately. Instead, they must remain in the city where they received treatment and return the following morning. Drivers will also stay in the respective municipality, utilizing provided daily allowances. This measure aims to reduce travel during high-risk hours, though it does not apply to urgent or emergency medical services.