Rising Concerns Over Disregard for Road Signs in Évora
The Mayor of Évora, Carlos Pinto de Sá, has expressed concerns about an "increasing disregard" for road signage and passive traffic management measures by drivers. This statement, as reported by The Portugal News, highlights the need for alternative solutions to address the issue and improve road safety.
“We are witnessing a growing tendency to ignore signage and passive traffic management measures, which is why we are working on finding new approaches,” explained the mayor.
As an example, Pinto de Sá emphasized the use of physical deterrents, such as speed-reducing obstacles and measures to prevent sidewalk parking. He also pointed to the introduction of raised pedestrian crossings and narrower roads where feasible.
“Current experience shows us that traditional signage is often disregarded, making it necessary to implement more effective solutions,” he added.
The city of Évora is also pursuing a Sustainable Mobility Plan, which, according to The Portugal News, was developed with input from various political parties. This plan aims to deliver long-term improvements to both urban roads and the wider municipal road network.
However, Pinto de Sá acknowledged that funding constraints remain a major challenge. “For over 15 years, European Union funding for local road networks has been unavailable. There was an assumption that Portugal had resolved its road network challenges, but municipal roads were overlooked,” he noted.
This funding gap has left municipalities grappling with significant difficulties in maintaining their road infrastructure.
Recent data from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), also cited in The Portugal News, reveals that the first half of this year witnessed 17,154 road accidents with victims, resulting in 214 fatalities, 1,184 serious injuries, and 19,967 minor injuries. These figures highlight an upward trend over the past decade, with accidents increasing by 22%, fatalities by 3.4%, serious injuries by 26%, and minor injuries by 18.9% since 2014.
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