I know that the general standard of Portuguese driving indicates that it is unlikely, but does anyone know if there is such a thing as a Portuguese Highway Code, and if so, is there an English language version?

http://www.dgv.pt/UpLoadedFiles/roadcodedgv.pdf

Enjoy

If im not mistaken, the new Highway Code came out in March last year (or something of the sort). I don't know if there's an english version though.

Rule 1. If there is a vehicle in front of you it MUST be overtaken. This is regardless of any on-coming traffic, speed limits or bends.

Look at this !

http://www.portcult.com/DRIVING_FILES_0 ... _drive.htm

I honestly do not understand why there is all this ' hoho Portuguese are rubbish drivers'. I have never had a problem either in Lisbon or in the country. I think the standard of driving is as good as in the UK. I think it depends on what you are looking for, if you think that something is so, you will find examples to prove your point. Please don't start quoting 5 year old traffic stats, I've seen them!

I think Portuguese drivers tend to be far more courteous than the average Brit. I just find their habit of trying to get their bonnet into my boot and their overtaking takes some getting used to. I much prefer driving in Portugal to here.

Having just had to endure the M1 up to Doncaster last Friday afternoon, it makes you appreciate how lucky we are in Portugal

pm wrote:I honestly do not understand why there is all this ' hoho Portuguese are rubbish drivers'. I have never had a problem either in Lisbon or in the country. I think the standard of driving is as good as in the UK. I think it depends on what you are looking for, if you think that something is so, you will find examples to prove your point. Please don't start quoting 5 year old traffic stats, I've seen them!

I agree with pm. I can't say I've noticed that Portuguese drivers are any worse than at home.

Some Portuguese drivers do have a bad tailgating habit, but we now make frequent trips to CVO, and there is no comparison between the M25 to Gatwick and the A22 to Lagoa. Much prefer driving in Portugal, although cannot speak for July and August, since we don't visit then.

There was a good article in the Portuguese Press recently which pointed out that the road death statistics had been manipulated by the authorities and were in fact much higher.

The reason was that the Portuguese only considered as reportable "dead at the scene" or "dead on arrival at hospital" whilst other european countries alos include subsequent death from injuries received after 3 days and after 7 days.

Thus if you take those into account there is a 14% increase! These figures from memory but I think are accurate. I guess you can print as many copies of the Highway Code as you like but that doesn't mean a thing in practice here or in any other country.