A video shared on social media appears to show a group of motorcyclists travelling along Madeira’s VR1 expressway at speeds far above the legal limit.
The footage, published on the 27th of July, shows the speedometer of one motorcycle approaching 240 km/h. The date on which the video was recorded is not known.
During the footage, the motorcyclists can be seen changing lanes while travelling at between 230 and 240 km/h—more than twice the maximum speed permitted on the road.
The general speed limit on the VR1 is 90 km/h, rising to 100 km/h on designated sections when the road surface is dry.
The video remains available on social media and has attracted numerous reactions, with several users criticising the riders’ behaviour and the danger posed to other road users.
Last month, the Public Security Police (PSP), National Republican Guard (GNR) and National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) conducted a nationwide campaign focusing on the safety of motorcycle and moped users.
Between the 7th and the 13th of July, more than 10,000 motorcycles were inspected in Madeira and the Azores, with 563 offences detected across the two autonomous regions.
Nationwide, 550,213 vehicles and drivers were checked during the campaign, resulting in 12,429 offences. The most common included speeding, failure to wear a helmet correctly, dangerous overtaking, documentation and vehicle-condition irregularities, drink-driving and using a mobile phone at the wheel.
The authorities also provided road-safety advice to 500 motorcycle and moped riders and passengers.
According to the police, accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds caused 440 deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries in Portugal between 2023 and 2025.
During the week-long campaign, 2,771 road accidents were recorded nationwide, resulting in 15 deaths, 60 serious injuries and 909 minor injuries.
The autonomous regions accounted for 147 accidents, around 5% of the national total. These resulted in three serious injuries and 43 minor injuries, with no fatalities recorded.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Views: 52
