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Road accidents death toll in Portugal at lowest level in 55 years

Xinhua, April 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

The annual death toll on the road in Portugal fell to less than 400 in 2014, the lowest level in 55 years, the National Association of Spirituous Drink Companies said in a statement on Saturday.

The association believes a program promoting alcohol-free driving habits has played an important role in reducing the death toll.

The association launched the program "100 percent cool" around 14 years ago, with the objective to raise awareness among young people of the importance of responsible driving.

Between 2013 and 2014, less than 17 percent of young people were caught drink-driving, according to the statement.

The minimum driving age in Portugal is 18 and alcohol intake is limited to under 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. If drivers in Portugal are caught having drunk more than this amount, they will be fined and their driving license will be suspended.

It is considered a criminal offence if drivers are caught with having more than 1.2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. In such a case, they will be detained and may face up to one year's imprisonment and a three-year ban on driving.

In 2001, Portugal introduced a limit of 0.2 grams of alcohol per liter of blood, but many people voiced objection and protested against the limit. The government then restored the limit to where it remains today. Endit