Road rules and safety - Portugal
Which rule are you interested in?
- Alcohol limits
- Forbidden lane
- Influence of drugs
- Mobile telephone
- Other specific rules
- Safety helmet
- Seat belts
- Speed limits
- Traffic lights
| 0,5 mg/ml Standard drivers | |
| 0,2 mg/ml Professional drivers | |
| 0,2 mg/ml Novice drivers |
No information |
Forbidden drugsTHC (cannabis) Methylamphetamine MDMA (ecstasy) Other forbidden drugs include opiates, their derivates and cocaine. |
 | Drivers may use their mobile phone with a hand-free set |
 | Drivers may not use their mobile phone without a hand-free set |
 | Safety equipment for carsReflective vest Warning triangle |
 | Mopeds |
| Light and heavy quadricycles |
| Light and heavy tricycles |
| Motorcycles with/without a sidecar |
 | Bicycles |
The use of seat belts and child restraint systems is MANDATORY (Directive 91/671/EEC as amended). Exemptions for:
|
Passenger cars & vans with trailers
Vehicles below 3.5 t
Standard speed limits (unless otherwise stated by traffic signs) [km/h]
 | Non-urban roads |
  | Motorways/expressways |
 | Urban roads |
Motorcycles
Vehicles below 3.5 t
Standard speed limits (unless otherwise stated by traffic signs) [km/h]
 | Non-urban roads |
| Urban roads |
 | Motorways/expressways |
Heavy goods vehicles
over 3.5 t
Standard speed limits (unless otherwise stated by traffic signs) [km/h]
| Non-urban roads |
| Motorways/expressways |
| Urban roads |
Passenger cars & vans
Vehicles below 3.5 t
Standard speed limits (unless otherwise stated by traffic signs) [km/h]
| Motorways/expressways |
| Urban roads |
| Non-urban roads |
Buses
Standard speed limits (unless otherwise stated by traffic signs) [km/h]
| Motorways/expressways |
| Urban roads |
| Non-urban roads |
Red means 'Stop'; you must not go beyond the traffic light. When red and amber show together, this also means 'Stop', but indicates that the lights are about to change to green. Green means you may proceed, provided you can clear the intersection during the green phase and your entering the intersection does not pose any danger to other road users. Amber means ‘Stop’. Only if you are already so close to the traffic light that stopping would mean having to brake hard may you go on when the amber light appears; amber also indicates that the signal is about to turn to red. A green arrow under a red light: this means that you may turn off in the direction indicated by the arrow, provided that you first stop at the light before proceeding without hindering other road users who have a green light. |
Disclaimer
This content on road safety and traffic rules is provided by the national authorities according to Article 8(1) of Directive (EU) 2015/413/EU. The European Commission does not assume liability for this content or its accuracy. For the most accurate and up-to-date information check national websites, where you can also find information on other national rules covering time-based charges (vignettes), emission stickers and road tolls.