Speed limits

Cars
in town: 50 km/h
out of town: 90 km/h
fast road: 100 km/h
highway: 120 km/h

Motor bikes
in town: 50 km/h
out of town: 90 km/h
fast road: 100 km/h
highway: 120 km/h

Caravan trailer
in town: 50 km/h
out of town: 70 km/h
fast road: 80 km/h
highway: 100 km/h

Caravans of more than 3.5t
in town: 50 km/h
out of town: 80 km/h
fast road: 90 km/h
highway: 110 km/h

General information:
The quality of the roads has been improved considerably within the last 20 years. However, some tracks, and in particular roads of access to the beaches, are partly still very bad. For general orientation the N125 running north of the coast line from the Spanish border to Vila do Bispo is very important. Alternatively, the turnpike (A22) Via do Infante is recommendable.

The N125 is very busy in the morning between 8 h and 10 h and in the afternoon from 16 h to 19 h. At such times it happens again and again that transits through the city are jammed.

Particularities with roundabouts:
The right lane in a roundabout with two lanes is only used when the roundabout is to be abandoned at its first option. As soon as you are about to leave the roundabout, the changing to the right lane has priority.

Portuguese (also police and driving school) often signal left until they want to leave the roundabout.

Behaviour in case of an accident:
Call in the police on every accident. Car rental agencies or their insurance companies, respectively, insist in that as a rule. Take meaningful pictures immediately after the accident, also such on which the license number of the vehicles can be seen. Employ the standard accident report of the EU that can be downloaded from the internet (“European accident statement”). The hazard triangle must be placed 50 m (in town), 100 m (out of town) or 200 m (on fast roads), respectively, in front of the accident scene.

Special vehicles:
Horse and cart, tuk-tuks (for tourist/sightseeing tours), tourist trains and very old cars can be seen daily and are to be overtaken with care. Romani people are often on their way with big herds of horses. Please keep a good distance and overtake just when there is sufficient space for it.

Signposting:
The signposting is not consistent. If there is a sign for turning soon at the first junction, it actually may happen that at the next one the sign has been forgotten.

Signs indicating towns or villages are white with black writing, signs indicating beaches, places of interest or special sites are brown with white writing. Signs of sports areas, etc., are of different colours.

Overtaking:
Please always take into account to be overtaken, even when it is not possible under “normal” circumstances, i. e. before and within a turn in the road, in the case of a full center line and – by motor bikes – also from the right side or on streets with only one lane.

Parking:
There are sufficient parking places at the Algarve. Many of them, especially those at supermarkets and service areas, are protected by awnings in order to prevent a direct sun exposure and the heating-up of the car. The big shopping malls in Portimão, Guia, Faro and Tavira have underground car parks that in the summer months are highly recommendable. In bigger cities there are cheap car parks. Unfortunately, people use to park quite thoughtless, i. e. in second line, in roundabouts and in front of accesses.

TIP: Be careful on unpaved beach parking places! The difference between passable and very loose sand is hardly recognizable. Please do not park on clumps of grass! Here it only rains very scarcely during the whole summer months. Thus, the vegetation may be completely dry and the cat of your vehicle being very hot could cause a fire.

Punishment:
In the Algarve the police is very friendly. In case of a control keep available your passport / identity card, your driving license and the green insurance card (or simply all papers when you have rented a car). Be polite and, having committed an offence, be insightful. The degree of punishment often is a matter of discretion.

Calling by mobile phone and riding without seat belt carries rigorous punishment (120 € or more).

When having a car trouble or an accident, please pull over a reflective vest before leaving the vehicle (if not, you risk a very high punishment).

Rain:
When it rains, the street is like a slide. In particular, when it has not been raining for months, the mixture of tyre wear particles, oil residuals and sand is nearly as slippery as ice.