The São Paulo City Hall has announced that approximately 2.5 million vehicles are expected to leave the city during the upcoming Carnival festivities, primarily heading towards the interior and coastal areas. This estimate comes from CET (Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego), which is preparing a comprehensive traffic management plan for both outbound and inbound vehicles during the holiday period. Notably, the vehicle rotation system will be suspended from Monday, February 16, to Wednesday, February 18, allowing for smoother travel, though certain restrictions for trucks and charter buses will still apply.

Commencing Friday morning, February 13, major transportation routes will start facing congestion, particularly the Ayrton Senna-Carvalho Pinto system towards the interior, where heavy traffic is anticipated by 10 AM. The patterns suggest that travelers should be prepared for significant delays as the busy periods progress, especially with return traffic projected to peak around 11 AM on Tuesday, February 17. For those heading to Baixada Santista, traffic on the Anchieta-Imigrantes route is expected to rise by 6 PM on February 14, continuing through the night, with the busiest return times forecasted for Monday afternoon and evening.

This influx of holiday travelers underscores the need for effective traffic management and public awareness of travel times, enhancing road safety during a peak travel period. Authorities are keen on minimizing congestion and ensuring that both outbound and inbound traffic flows efficiently to accommodate the millions participating in this cultural celebration.