Quoted in an ACP statement, Carlos Barbosa argued, at the Innovation Center of the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, that it is "urgent to implement practical driving tests, in addition to the theoretical driving test, to ensure that drivers meet minimum safety requirements."
According to the statement from the organisation, the leader has already requested hearings with the Minister of Infrastructure and the parliamentary groups of the Assembly of the Republic to present concrete proposals to strengthen the regulation of individual road passenger transport in unmarked vehicles using electronic platforms (TVDE).
"Safety levels in TVDEs are at historic lows, visible to the naked eye, and many drivers lack adequate driving skills and don't even speak Portuguese. There have even been worrying reports of drivers sleeping in trunks, highlighting lapses in supervision and a risk to passengers," said Carlos Barbosa, at Mobility Day hosted by the operator Bolt.
According to official data from the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT), more than 39,000 TVDE vehicles (such as Uber or Bolt drivers) were registered in Portugal last August, a number that reinforces the scale and severity of the problem, the statement further states.
The head of the ACP emphasised that passenger safety "cannot continue to be jeopardised," calling for firm and immediate action by regulatory and legislative bodies.
In this regard, he recalled that the TVDE Law (45/2018) has been at an impasse for four years, since, despite the recommendation of the Assembly of the Republic, published in the Official Gazette of the Union in March 2025, only administrative changes have been made.
The ACP also welcomes the introduction of the mandatory driving test for TVDE drivers, but argues that it should be complemented by a practical driving test. The training should be in-person and include mandatory Portuguese language proficiency, and license revalidation should follow the same structure as the initial training, with an online and an in-person component.
English
Nederlands
Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Svenska
Pусский
中文
Türkçe
Português
Polski
عربي
Suomi
עִברִית
Português (Brasil)
As a frequent user of this service in Lisbon, I completely agree with the recommendations of the ACP President. A lack of proficiency in the Portuguese language is common, but what worries me most is the lack of local knowledge, imprudence, and dangerous driving.
I've had experiences that have left me uneasy: I was dropped off in a different location from my destination, and on another occasion, I had to wake up a driver who fell asleep at a red light.
If this trend continues, I fear that a tragedy is inevitable and, unfortunately, will be the catalyst for improving the system.
By Julio Casoy from Lisbon on 18 Sep 2025, 10:54