The toll takes the average to over two fatalities every month.
Recently, the region’s roads were once again highlighted when well-known Portuguese musician Miguel Drago was killed in an accident.
Figures obtained by newspaper Correio da Manhã (CM) from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) showed that between 22 April 2014 and 21 April 2015, nine more people were killed in crashes than during the previous 12 months.
Musician Miguel Drago, 48, was killed and two other people were left seriously injured in a two-car crash that took place near the Algarve Shopping centre in Guia Albufeira.
But, according to the ANSR’s figures, there have been fewer serious injuries caused this past 12 months (139) than during the 12 months prior (150).
During the first four months of this year there were also fewer deaths in relation to the same period last year, but more serious injuries were recorded than those between January and April of 2014.
However, the number of accidents has been steadily rising since 2013. In the first four months of that year 2,078 accidents were registered, while in 2014, 2,094 were registered and during the first four months of this year 2,268 have already been registered.
According to the Via do Infante Users Committee (CUVI) these figures are a result of tolls being introduced on the A22/Via do Infante motorway – the region’s only motorway – which has transformed its free alternative, the EN125 – once known as Europe’s deadliest road – again into “the road of death.”
For this reason, CM states, the Committee is planning a series of protests against the tolls.