Berta Cabral praises Road Prevention efforts and announces alternatives through Regional Land Transport Fund - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral,  praised today the meritorious service carried out by the Azorean Road Prevention (PRA), which has just ceased its activity.

As an association governed by private law, PRA has always been an active and collaborative partner of various Azorean governments in communication and training practices regarding road prevention. It has also acted as a unifying and mobilising element and has had public support to promote these activities for several years.

The growing legislative and regulatory requirements for granting public subsidies mean that all agents, both in the public administration and beneficiary associations, have to evolve in terms of the rigour of procedural and administrative practices, which the Court of Auditors supervises. However, in many cases, given the type and organisational structure of these associations, which have limited resources (human, financial and logistical), it is difficult to achieve full compliance.

It should be noted that the Court of Auditors recommended that the Government of the Azores set targets and their assessment in the legal instruments regulating the award of specific grants as well as monitor compliance with the requirements for assessing results for the awarding of subsidies.

The Regional Government of the Azores has made various efforts, at different points in time, in conjunction with the Land Transport Fund (FRTT), to stimulate the feasibility of the activity carried out by the Azorean Road Prevention. This included a review, in 2023, of the protocol terms established years ago between the FRTT and PRA for allocating public support.

In view of the decision that has now been announced, the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures would like to point out that the Regional Land Transport Fund has already been studying alternatives to the activity provided by the PRA for some time, namely the training of young moped drivers.

The Government of the Azores is grateful for the service provided and the quality that has always been recognised in the work carried out by PRA. It also reinforces its commitment to presenting alternatives and ensuring that all good practices and regulatory requirements are fully applied.