Road safety trends in Portugal and Brazil

In mid‑July 2026, a report from the Rota das Bandeiras program highlighted a historic low in road fatalities on São Paulo’s Corredor Dom Pedro, suggesting a recent improvement in traffic safety within that Brazilian corridor.

By early August, Portuguese authorities released national road‑safety data showing 285 deaths in road accidents up to 30 July 2026—below the 2019 peak of 294—but a record number of serious injuries. In response, the Portuguese government reinstated the GNR traffic brigade, expanded speed‑camera coverage, and launched a “zero deaths by 2030” initiative that includes lower speed limits, anti‑slip pavement, upgraded signage, rapid‑response accident teams, and pedestrian‑safety projects in major cities.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a broader pattern of declining road‑fatality counts accompanied by heightened policy measures aimed at further improving road safety in both Brazil and Portugal.