The campaign will run until February 7th and will see inspection operations in Carcavelos (Cascais) and Monte da Caparica (Almada) and also includes actions in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, the three entities announced in a statement.

In 2022, two in every five drivers killed in road accidents had an alcohol level equal to or greater than 0.5 g/l and three in four of these drivers had a level equal to or greater than 1.2 g/l, considered a crime.

The authorities recall that several scientific studies demonstrate that driving under the influence of alcohol causes various disorders, particularly at the cognitive level and information processing, as well as changes in the ability to react to unforeseen events and motor incoordination.

The “Zero Alcohol at the Wheel” campaign will integrate inspection operations by the PSP and the GNR, with a special focus on roads and accesses with high traffic flow to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure the adoption of safer behaviour by drivers.

The awareness-raising actions will take place simultaneously with inspection operations on the 1st of February, at the Nova School of Business & Economics University roundabout, in Carcavelos, and on the 7th at the Faculty Rotunda, in Monte da Caparica (Almada).

In the note, the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), the Public Security Police (PSP), and the National Republican Guard (GNR) emphasise that driving under the influence of alcohol is a safety risk, remembering that with a high alcohol content in their blood of 0.5 g/l and the risk of having a serious or fatal accident doubles.

They also remember that accidents resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol “is particularly serious” and that alcohol reduces the visual field, causing so-called “tunnel vision”.

“This loss of capabilities, as well as behavioural changes that can lead to states of euphoria and disinhibition, significantly increase the risk of involvement in road accidents”, they insist.

Of the 12 awareness and inspection campaigns planned under the 2024 National Inspection Plan, this is the second. Until the end of the year, another 10 will take place, one per month.

In the first campaign, which took place in January, five actions were carried out, during which around 600 people were sanctioned.

As for inspection actions, the number of drivers inspected was around 49,500. Around five million vehicles were inspected using radars.