Over 30 Deaths on São Paulo Highways During Year-end Holiday

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – A report released on Friday, January 3rd, by the São Paulo State Police’s Highway Patrol Command showed that 32 people died and 115 were seriously injured in accidents on São Paulo’s highways during Operation New Year’s Eve.

The actions took place between December 27th and January 2nd. According to the report, 428 accidents with victims were recorded in the state.

The State Highway Police did not compare this year’s survey with last year’s records relating to the same period. According to the police, the previous operation was conducted over seven days, while this year it was only five days.

According to the highway police, 1.2 million vehicles left São Paulo’s capital during the new year period.

The occurrence reports, according to the State Police (PM), showed that most accidents could have been avoided. Of the total number of deaths, 13 occurred as a result of collisions, five due to overtaking and five due to running over.

During Operation New Year 2020, the police issued 87,961 traffic infraction notices, most of which for speeding (40,562 cases).

The second-highest occurrence was for failure to wear seat belts (11,083 cases). The highway police also detected 772 individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances.

In addition, 68 people were arrested in the act and 34 individuals wanted by the courts were captured.

Source: Agência Brasil