SOS Autoestradas: Now you can request assistance without leaving your vehicle

Driving on a Portuguese motorway and encountered a problem? If you’ve had a breakdown or accident on a Portuguese motorway, you no longer need to leave your vehicle or walk to the nearest SOS post. The new SOS Autoestradas app, developed by the Portuguese Association of Toll Motorway or Bridge Concessionaires (APCAP), is transforming the way drivers request assistance, making the process faster, safer, and more intuitive.

Created by the 21 concessionaires associated with APCAP, this free app is available for both Android and iOS. It allows any user – whether driver or passenger – to act as if they were at an SOS post, without needing to leave the vehicle. All it takes is a mobile phone with internet access and GPS enabled.

How does the SOS Autoestradas app work?

The app’s main function interacts with the network of APCAP-concessioned motorways. When an incident occurs, the app automatically locates the vehicle using GPS with high precision, identifies the direction of travel and even the lane, and immediately sends the information to the responsible concessionaire, speeding up the dispatch of assistance. In more serious situations, it also allows direct calling of 112, ensuring emergency help even outside the APCAP network.

Advantages over traditional methods

Although there are over 3,000 physical SOS posts on Portuguese motorways, they are not always used – due to visibility, accessibility, or safety concerns. With this digital solution, users can stay inside their vehicle and avoid unnecessary risk.

The numbers highlight the importance of this evolution: over 150,000 incidents are recorded annually on national motorways, with 80% of calls made by drivers of light vehicles. The Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas account for the majority of contacts, with a significant increase during the summer months. The concessionaires’ support lines alone receive around 12,500 calls per year.

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The SOS Autoestradas app can be used by any type of vehicle – light, heavy goods, or passenger vehicles. It is a technological innovation in the service of road safety, and quite literally, just a tap away.

SOS Autoestradas is now available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.