Immigrate to Portugal pays attention toPortugal: The Portuguese government will introduce a points-based driving license system to replace the current system of fines and license suspension.
João Almeida, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, recently announced that the proposal for establishing a points-based driving license system will be submitted to the Assembly of the Republic by the end of March this year.
In a response letter to the Lusa News Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not provide detailed information regarding the points-based driving license system, indicating that more details would be kept until the proposal is submitted to the Assembly.
However, the Ministry explained that after studying the assessment report of the National Strategy for Road Safety and a comparative analysis report on Portugal's road safety status with other countries, they decided to change the current driving license system implemented domestically.
The "National Road Safety Strategy 2008-2015" established a series of policy measures aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents and fatalities in Portugal while advocating for the introduction of a points-based driving license system. This means that drivers would receive points for violating specified traffic regulations. When accumulated to a certain amount, their driving license would be suspended.
The Ministry believes that the establishment of a points-based driving license system can enhance drivers' sense of responsibility, make them more attentive to their driving behaviors, reduce the rate of violations, and minimize the occurrence of traffic accidents.
According to relevant data from the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), there are currently 12,000 people in Portugal at risk of having their driving licenses suspended, and these individuals will have their licenses suspended if they violate severe or very severe traffic regulations again.
Current traffic laws in Portugal state that if a driver has three very severe violations within five years or five violations between severe and very severe, their license will be suspended, and they will be prohibited from driving for the next two years. After two years, they can retake the test to obtain a new license and will also undergo relevant training by the traffic authority.
Generally, severe and very severe violations include: speeding, using a phone while driving, driving under the influence, running a red light, and violating lane regulations, among others.
Since 2010, a total of 41 drivers have had their licenses suspended. Currently, there are indeed 5,120 drivers who should have their licenses suspended, but the National Road Safety Authority has not yet confiscated them.
The Director of the National Road Safety Authority has the power to suspend licenses. When a driver's license is suspended, the authority will formally notify the traffic department, making that license invalid from that moment on.
If a driver does not voluntarily surrender their license to the National Road Safety Authority, the local police will notify the driver and confiscate their license.