Portugal’s GNR will be out in force from Thursday 31st December to deter and catch those who decided to drive while under the influence of alcohol.
‘Operation New Year’ involves the GNR increasing patrols and roadside checks to and from the locations where this year's festivities will be taking place.
According to the GNR’s public relations department, the purpose of 'Operation New Year' is the prevention of road accidents. GNR officers from the National Traffic Unit will be reinforced by the Intervention Unit and the Security police.
The GNR will be especially looking for drunk drivers and those who have had a spliff or two, noting correctly that this is a good time of year to catch people who have been at it.
Ricardo Silva from the GNR’s PR department said it is best for drivers to abstain rather than try and work out whether they are below the legal limit.
“Simply put, if driving, do not drink as one in three deaths in road accidents are due to the driver being over the limit, hence our concern."
Silva stressed also that driving under the influence, speeding and not using a seat belts are the three main causes of deaths on Portugal’s roads.
But the GNR will not be limiting their activities to drunk drivers as those using their mobile phones while driving, and those driving without the correct documents are more likely to be stopped and fined in the three days of Operation New Year that runs from December 31st to January 3rd, 2016.
Comments
Discovering that the chap who had driven into us had a history of drunk driving but mysteriously was never punished for it. And that, as his car was expensive - an upmarket Audi - he was charging us for the privilege. His claim being that we were on his side of the road and our lawyer told us that the GNR had agreed to support him.
That left us with the option of fighting this local VIP and the GNR in the local Tribunal with no witnesses for us or paying for his repairs and our own. Knowing Portugal's reputation for local courts supporting local people and us being foreign - we paid his repairs. And no doubt he will be out again on the roads of Central Portugal tonight !