Brasília, 2/16/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - According to the Highway Patrol, in 2003 there were 2,210 accidents on federal highways during Carnival, with 101 deaths and 1,428 injuried. In order to reduce those numbers, the National Traffic Department (Denatran) launched a nationwide ad campaign on Sunday. The campaign's slogan is: "Take it easy. Did you have a drink? Then don't drive!"

Carnival officially begins next weekend. (AB)