In a statement, the GNR said that during operations in various parts of the country, 25,404 vehicles were inspected, and a total of 5,371 offences were recorded, 341 of which related to the use of mobile phones while driving.

During the campaign period, according to the GNR, a total of 1,469 accidents were recorded, resulting in three fatalities, 18 serious injuries and 406 light injuries.

The Road Safety Campaign “At the wheel, the mobile phone can wait”, was the responsibility of the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP) and took place from 10 to 14 December while aiming to “alert drivers to the negative and even fatal consequences of using a mobile phone while driving”.

During the campaign, ANSR awareness raising actions and inspection operations were carried out by the GNR and PSP, with a special focus on roads and access roads with high traffic flow.

“Although six actions were planned, in Lisbon, Faro, Loulé, Beja, Évora and Setúbal, due to adverse weather conditions during the campaign period, it was only possible to carry out the actions in Faro and Loulé, where 88 drivers were approached”, says the press release.

The campaign was part of the National Control Plan, which is part of the National Strategic Plan for Road Safety - PENSE 2020, which aims to “Make Road Safety a priority for all Portuguese”.

PENSE foresees the implementation of awareness campaigns simultaneously with inspection operations, in places where infractions that represent an increased risk for accidents occur regularly.