Lisbon, April 15, 2026 (Lusa) – The number of deaths caused by accidents in built-up areas increased after the pandemic, according to the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR).
The body highlights that "Portugal has the highest urban mortality profile in the European Union (EU)."
The 2022–2025 post-pandemic period reveals a "dichotomous evolution" between urban and rural road accidents, according to an ANSR study on accident trends and comparative analysis. Fatalities outside urban areas continued to decline, falling by 17.8% within 24 hours of an accident and by 15.8% after 30 days. Conversely, in urban areas, deaths increased by 8% and 5.9%, respectively.
Both contexts show a significant increase in serious injuries, ANSR reports. The study reveals that for every 100 deaths within 24 hours in urban areas, an additional 45 deaths occur within 30 days.
Outside these areas, that figure drops to 18, suggesting that "urban accidents, though initially less fatal, frequently result in victims who die in the following weeks".
"In urban areas, the difference between fatalities within 24 hours and those within 30 days is substantially higher than that recorded outside towns," the document says.
This suggests a greater relative weight of serious injuries where the fatal outcome occurs after the initial moment of the accident.
According to the report, "this evidence points to the need to strengthen intervention in urban environments, with special attention to speed, the protection of vulnerable users, and conflicts between different modes of travel."
Portugal has the highest urban mortality profile in the EU, according to the report, which said that 55% of fatalities occur in urban areas, compared to an EU average of 39% and just 27% in Spain.
This pattern highlights distinct problems. In Portugal, intervention priorities centre on cities, specifically speed moderation, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and conflicts between motorised two-wheelers and urban traffic.
Conversely, the priority in Spain lies with interurban roads and motorways, which account for nearly three-quarters of its deaths.
The high proportion of motorway fatalities in Spain, 21% compared to the EU’s 8%, reflects the high density of the Spanish motorway network, ANSR said. This network represents 2.38% of the country’s total roads, versus the 1.67% EU average. The document states that high speed remains a risk factor even on generally high-quality networks.
Portuguese motorways are relatively safe by comparison; although they make up an even higher proportion of the national network (21.7%), they account for only 8% of fatalities. The problem remains concentrated on urban and rural roads.
Portugal also reveals a more serious "issue with self-reported speeding in urban areas than Spain (65.2% against 48.4%)," ANSR stated. This data aligns with the country’s predominantly urban mortality profile.
The report further identifies a clear seasonal concentration of severity in the third quarter of the year. This period accounts for more than 30% of fatalities and serious injuries, despite not representing an equivalent proportion of total accidents, which suggests intensified risk during the summer.
International comparisons within the study reveal that "Portugal has improved significantly over the last two decades. The road mortality rate per million inhabitants dropped from 118.8 in 2005 to 58.1 in 2024".
However, this evolution "was not enough to ensure convergence with the safest European countries", the document says.
Portugal remained above the European Union average (45) and well above Spain (36.7) in 2024. Both countries share geographical and cultural proximity, as well as comparable mobility patterns, the document states.
The report shows that "the Spanish trajectory was more consistent and sustained, whereas Portugal recorded periods of stagnation and relapse, particularly since the middle of the last decade." Both Iberian nations face a common problem, though it remains especially pronounced in Portugal: the increase in deaths resulting from motorcycle and moped accidents.
The document’s release coincides with Pedro Clemente’s inauguration as president of ANSR. The internal affairs minister, Luís Neves, will preside over the ceremony and is expected to announce strategic road safety measures in response to the rising number of fatalities.
CMP/RYOL // ADB.
Lusa
