The Portugal News reported yesterday that the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, had announced surprise police road checks for the holiday weekend.

In addition to random police road checks, driving at speeds of 180 or 200 kilometres per hour (km/h) or more could become a crime under the new Highway Code, CNN Portugal reports: "Seventy percent of the new Highway Code is practically stabilised," Luís Neves revealed at a press conference in Lisbon.

The legislation aims to create an environment where going out on the road doesn't have to be dangerous and where "other citizens on the road" are respected.

Criminalising driving above high speeds, such as 180 or 200 km/h, is under consideration, as this is currently only regarded as a minor offence.

The drafting of a new Highway Code was one of the initiatives announced in April by Luís Neves as a measure to reduce road accidents, along with the reactivation of the GNR Traffic Brigade, the installation of more speed cameras, and the implementation of unannounced stop-and-go operations.

Luís Neves has acknowledged the delay in the preparation of the National Road Safety Strategy, which has been pending approval since 2021. The strategy aims to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2019.

Until September 15th, the ministry is analysing “around 70 proposals, which were received during the public discussion of the national road safety strategy proposal. Once it's concluded, it will go to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Starting November 1st, pilot tests will begin in pre-selected locations "to understand all types of driving behaviour,” the officials added.

According to Luís Neves, programs will be used that allow for the recovery of images and the collection of information on various aspects, including speed, mobile phone usage, and "whether or not the license plate is real,” CNN Portugal reports.

By the beginning of 2027, a new computer system for all traffic violations will be ready, allowing for faster collection of fines for infractions committed on the road: "We are very motivated (...) in the fight against this lack of compliance with the law, against this civil war that we have on the roads," the Minister of Internal Administration stressed.