Road safety awareness campaign yields positive results, assures Regional Directorate for Transport
The Regional Director for Transport highlighted the road safety campaign and praised the work developed by PSP (public safety police) in raising the awareness of Azorean drivers. The government official considered that "thanks to this effort, the Azorean population is increasingly aware for a safe and responsible driving behaviour.
Speaking to journalists during a road safety awareness campaign carried out by PSP in Ponta Delgada, Luís Quintanilha revealed that "accident figures evidence this fact" and stressed "a reduction in the number of accidents."
Based on data from the end of November, we expect a reduction in the accident rate by 15%-20% this year and, for the first time since 1999, the number of accidents is expected to drop below three thousand .
By the end of November, a total of 2585 accidents were registered in the Azores, with 625 casualties and 9 fatalities.
One should recall that a total of 3042 accidents were recorded in 2011, which resulted in 809 casualties and 22 fatalities.
As it is not possible to reduce road accidents," because accidents happen due to numerous reasons," Luís Quintanilha stressed that the role of road safety and awareness campaigns, such as the one that took place this afternoon, "is of utmost importance."
In this regard, the government official emphasised the "need to further develop this type of initiatives among drivers and road users in the archipelago" and mentioned "the very good conditions of the vast majority of regional roads."