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.

IMT Notice

The deliberation of IMT regarding the Exam of the Driving Theory Lesson is as follows.

Conducting theory tests with a translator

Whereas under the terms of Article 44.9(2) of the Legal Driving Licence Regulation (RHLC), approved by Decree-Law 138/2012, of 5 July, in its current wording, a driver candidate who does not have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language may request a translation from IMT, I. P., during the theory tests for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B;

Considering that under the terms of paragraph 3 of the aforementioned article 44, the procedures for translation are defined by decision of the IMT, I. P. Board of Directors;

The Board of Directors of IMT, I.P., resolves:

1) Translators who carry out translations of theoretical driving test examinations must be previously registered with IMT as translators, upon presentation of the following documentation:

a) Identification document;

b) A certificate proving that they are a translator, issued by the consular services of either the country of the language in which they wish to be recognised as a translator or the Portuguese consular services or, alternatively, a certificate issued by a duly constituted and registered translators' association;

c) Curriculum vitae;

d) Contact e-mail address.

2) For the purposes of requesting a translation of evidence, the following procedure must be followed:

a) The candidate driver informs the driving school that he wishes to take the theory test using a translator.

deliberation

b) When requesting the test at the test centre, the driving school must identify the translator.

c) The test centre informs IMT, IP, via email to traducoes@imt-ip.pt, that it intends to take the test using a translator, indicating the following:

i) Name, NIF and learning licence number of the candidate driver;

ii) Day and time of the intended theory test;

iii) Name and ID number of the translator;

iv) Language of the translation.

d) Once the application has been received, an ATM reference will be generated for payment of the fee.

d) Once the request has been received, an ATM reference is generated for payment of the fee and sent to the examination centre;

3) Theoretical tests with a translator are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 and Thursdays from 14:00 to 16:00. No more than 4 translated tests may be booked per test session at each examination centre.

4) The procedures to be followed when translating the test are as follows:

a) IMT, IP confirms payment of the fee, generates the exam paper and sends an email to the translator indicated containing two attached documents in pdf format: one with the exam paper in Portuguese and the other with an editable document where the translator must write the translation.

b) The translator has two hours to complete the translation and send the two files, the Portuguese-language exam paper and the translated exam paper, to traducoes@imt-ip.pt; and

c) The translated proof received is added to the database of translated proofs;

d) IMT, IP generates a translated test from the database referred to in the previous paragraph and sends it to the respective examination centre.

5) If IMT, IP does not receive the translated test, it does not generate a test from the database or send the translated test to the examination centre.

6) The translator is responsible for the translation carried out.

7) If there are any irregularities in the translation, IMT, IP reserves the right to remove the translator from the translator database, without prejudice to possible criminal prosecution.

8) For each language to be translated, at least 5 proofs must be included in IMT, IP's database of translated proofs.

9) IMT, IP may regularly audit the quality of translations.

10) An annual report is drawn up on the translations carried out.

11) This decision comes into force on 10 September 2020.

Lisbon, 9th September 2020