According to provisional figures available on the GNR website, between 1 and 5 March the force recorded 902 accidents in the areas it covers – which are rural and other areas outside urban conurbations – with 27 serious injuries and 320 minor injuries.


During the five-day operation GNR police members stepped up patrols and road checks throughout mainland Portugal, especially on roads leading into the places where Carnival festivities traditionally occur, with the aim of preventing accidents, regulating traffic and ensuring support for all road users.


At the start of the operation, the GNR explained that the Carnival period tends to see higher than usual consumption of alcoholic beverages and or drugs, particularly in nightlife venues, with revellers sometimes using vehicles to get home.


In 2018, during a similar operation covering the Carnival period, the GNR reported seven people killed, 13 severely injured and 292 with minor injuries.