The ANCIA statement comes after the 2018 report of the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) on death tolls 30 days after accidents which indicated that there were 675 deaths, the highest number since 2012.

Compared to 2017, last year’s 73 deaths at 30 days represents an increase of 12.1%.

For the ANCIA, the leaders of the main political forces should make "clear and constructive statements on this very relevant issue".

The association also considered it "urgent to focus prevention measures on reducing the loss of life and health damage caused by road accidents in Portugal".

The ANCIA stressed that "the country has returned to a black and distressing trend of increasing numbers of accidents and deaths on the roads”.