Grunders wrote:

Trigram.... Is your tag line right?

DiscoDunc wrote:

you "can" pay attention... or you "can't" pay attention...

Quote:

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
In Portugal, you drive on the right. If hiring a car, you should ensure that the vehicle insurance is fully comprehensive and covers you and your passengers for all eventualities.

As a tourist, you can bring your own vehicle to Portugal for a maximum of 183 days in any 12-month period. You must not use your vehicle for any other purpose than tourism or loan it to anyone else during that time. If you intend to stay longer, you must apply to the Portuguese Customs authority to have the car legally imported. You will be fined if you leave the country without your car.

The minimum age for driving is 18. You must possess a UK driving licence (of the European Communities model) or an International Driving Permit. UK-issued provisional licences are not valid for driving in Portugal. In addition to your licence, you must also carry your vehicle logbook or rental contract, proof of insurance and MOT certificate (if appropriate) together with all other relevant documentation. There are heavy on-the-spot fines for those who fail to do so.

In the event of an accident or breakdown, you must place a red warning triangle behind the vehicle and wear a reflective vest if you get out of your car. You must wear seatbelts in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 must not travel in the front passenger seat. You must not carry spare (full) petrol cans in your vehicle.

Fines for traffic offences are substantial in Portugal. Speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, the use of mobile phones whilst driving and illegal parking are heavily penalised. Small children must be in child safety seats with the seatbelts fastened in the back of your car. The police have the authority to fine on-the-spot and most of their vehicles have portable ATM machines to facilitate immediate payment. The Portuguese Highway Code can be found (in Portuguese) here.

As in many other European countries, there is a toll system in operation on Portuguese motorways. Heavy fines are imposed on those who do not or cannot pay toll fees.

In December 2011, electronic (unmanned) toll gates were introduced on the following motorways:

Northern Portugal – A4, A17, A41, A42, A44, A24, A25, A27, A28, A29

Central Portugal – A8, A13, A19, A23

Algarve – A22

If you are driving to Portugal in a foreign-registered vehicle, consult the Portuguese Highways website prior to your trip for the various payment options available to you.

If you intend to hire a car on arrival, you should ensure that your rental contract sets out how the car hire company intends to charge you for any toll costs you may incur. For more information, see the Portuguese Highways website.

If you are resident in Portugal or are a regular visitor and own a Portuguese registered vehicle, you can either subscribe to the automatic pay system “Via Verde” or opt for one of the other electronic devices in accordance with your own personal needs.

For further information, contact 707 500 501 (local call only) or e-mail the Portuguese Highway authority on duvidas.novasportagens@estradas.pt.

All other motorways have both manual and automatic payment options. Be careful not to use the green lanes on these motorways which are reserved for motorists who subscribe to the automatic pay system.

Driving regulations and customs are different from those in the UK and the accident rate is higher so please take care driving.

In 2010 there were 845 road deaths in Portugal (source: DfT). This equates to 7.9 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2009.