Death Toll In
Brazilian Road Accidents Up 13% During
Carnival
RIO DE JANEIRO - The death toll of motor
vehicle accidents in Brazil's highways
during the Carnival holiday was up 13
percent compared with the same period last
year, the country's Federal Highway Police (PRF)
said on Thursday.
According to the PRF, 143 people died in
accidents within six days during the
Carnival holidays, up 13 percent from 127
deaths in 2009 Carnival.
The number of accidents totaled 3,233, also
up 13 percent from the 2,865 accidents in
the same period a year earlier, and 1,912
people were injured in the accidents, a
seven-percent increase from last year.
Southeastern Minas Gerais state reported the
highest casualties, with 493 accidents, 26
deaths and 378 injured. The state has the
largest highway network in Brazil.
To reduce road accidents during the
holidays, the PRF increased patrols in
federal highways nationwide. It also made
available some 2,000 breathalyzers and 400
speed radars to crack down on drunk driving
and speeding.
The PRF said that 119,614 tickets were given
for traffic violations during the holiday,
with 53 percent for speeding. A total of
46,226 breathalyzer tests were conducted,
with 593 drivers arrested for drunk driving.
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