As Carnival celebrations kick off, drivers leaving São Paulo towards the Baixada Santista are encountering substantial traffic congestion. On Saturday morning, reports indicated that there was slow-moving traffic spanning 27 kilometers on the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways, according to Ecovias, the highway concessionaire. The anticipated vehicle count for the Carnival period, which runs from February 13 to 18, is between 290,000 and 446,000, with the peak traffic expected between the evening of February 13 and February 14.

At around 7 am, Ecovias reported specific delays: on the Anchieta highway from kilometers 20 to 30, and on the Imigrantes highway, from kilometers 40 to 43 and 26 to 40. These delays are attributed to a high volume of vehicles as many people flock to the coast for the holiday weekend. The weather is reported to be overcast in the plateau and mountainous sections of the highways, which may also be contributing to the slower conditions.

The influx of traffic during this festive season highlights the challenges faced by road infrastructures in accommodating large volumes of holiday travelers. Authorities are urging drivers to exercise patience and consider alternative travel times to mitigate the burden on these routes. This situation underscores the importance of managing road traffic during peak periods to ensure safety and efficiency for all travelers.