In July 2018, the 90th anniversary of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) was celebrated. The corporation has been under the command of the Ministry of Justice since 1991 and is part of the Federal Executive Branch. It is responsible not only for the safety of Brazilian roads but also plays a fundamental role in combating drug trafficking, arms and human trafficking, and the sexual exploitation of children and 
adolescents, for example.
Although the official inauguration was in 1928, the first group of PRF professionals was formed only seven years later, on July 23, 1935. Today, on this date, the Day of the Highway Guard is celebrated – previously called traffic inspector. Known popularly as guards or patrolmen, highway police officers oversee 71,000 kilometers of federal highways and roads throughout Brazil, with daily operations intensified during peak periods.
Responsibilities
PRF agents conduct visible policing, wear uniforms, and are armed, but are not subject to military hierarchy. They are responsible for preventing accidents and ensuring tranquility on federal highways and areas of interest to the Union, using the National Traffic Code as a parameter. They also carry out traffic education actions, targeted operations during busier times, such as holidays and year-end festivities, and increased policing in critical points on the highways.
Performance
According to a report released in January this year by the corporation itself, in 2017 there was a 2.7% decrease in the number of 
deaths, 3.5% in injuries, 13.8% in serious injuries, and 7.5% in the number of accidents on federal highways compared to 2016. According to the PRF, the reduction is due to the intensive inspection work of the agents, which also resulted in greater control over violations committed by drivers. According to the report, last year 5,853,185 traffic violation notices were issued on the roads – a number 4.8% higher than in 2016. In the fight against serious crimes, the Federal Highway Police also shows significant results. In the 2017 report, the agency seized nearly 400 tons of marijuana, 1.5 tons of crack, 10 tons of cocaine, and 9.5 million smuggled cigarette packs, in addition to 2,089 firearms and 189,632 rounds of ammunition – all numbers were higher than the previous year.
Source: Government of Brazil