A new drink-drive law comes into effect on January 1 effectively slashing the current limits on alcohol intake.
Whereas now all drivers in Portugal are allowed a level of 0.5 g/l of alcohol in their blood, the new Highway Code has brought this down to 0.2 g/l for ambulance, bus and taxi drivers, as well as delivery personnel and drivers who have only recently got their licences.
Road safety authority president Jorge Jacob welcomed the change, saying it was an “undisputed contribution to improving road safety” particularly as “Portugal was a long way from desired objectives when it came to fatalities as a result of alcohol abuse”.
