Leiria, Portugal, Sept. 17, 2026 (Lusa) - A driver was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning in Portugal's central Leiria region after driving 23 kilometres on the wrong side of the A17 motorway, against on-coming traffic, a source from the National Republican Guard (GNR) told the Lusa news agency.

According to the same source, the driver was arrested at around 05:45 for dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, having registered a blood alcohol level of 1.62.

The 37-year-old man was driving a «light passenger vehicle and travelled along the wrong side of A17 against on-coming traffic, from kilometre 32» – the Louriçal junction, in the district of Pombal – to kilometre 09, in Ortigosa, Leiria, where he was intercepted by a patrol from the GNR's Leiria Traffic Detachment.

«There were no injuries or damage to report,» the same source added, noting that the driver «will be released and summoned to appear» at the Leiria District Court on Friday.

SR/AYLS // AYLS

Lusa