Greece records five-year high in road deaths
Greece recorded 665 road traffic deaths in 2024, the highest in five years, according to data from ELSTAT, the country’s statistical authority. The figure surpasses those of previous years:
637 deaths in 2023, 654 in 2022, 624 in 2021, and 524 in 2020. While this number is provisional, it does not yet include individuals who succumbed to injuries after the time of the accident, and the final total is expected to be higher.
According to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), Greece ranks seventh among European countries with the highest rates of road fatalities.
Recent data from the Greek Police show a rise in traffic violations, particularly speeding, which increased from 263,942 cases in 2023 to 332,789 in 2024. Violations of traffic signs also rose to 237,391 in 2024 from 200,192 the year prior. Other key infractions in 2024 include:
Illegal parking: 546,099
Non-use of protective helmets: 90,514
Driving license suspensions: 78,827
Non-use of seat belts: 54,889
Driving under the influence: 32,202
Mobile phone use while driving: 18,776
Traffic light violations: 18,481
Driving against traffic: 14,759
Irregular maneuvers: 11,187
Illegal overtaking: 8,553
Additionally, the number of uninsured vehicles identified during inspections increased significantly, from 20,397 in 2023 to 26,069 in 2024.
These violations were recorded during 6.7 million police checks in 2024, compared to 5.6 million in 2023. Road safety advocates argue the actual number of violations is much higher and are calling for more frequent, in-person checks. “We hear a lot of positive measures in recent years, but unfortunately we don’t see any results,” said Manolis Stavroulakis of the “SOS Traffic Crimes” Association.
Stavroulakis, who lost his 26-year-old son in a road accident, described the emotional toll to To Vima: “When a traffic accident happens, it’s like a bomb falling on a house. Life stops…”
The association notes that despite discussions and proposed reforms, the lack of consistent law enforcement and strict penalties allows the problem to persist.
According to Thanasis Tsianos, President of the Association of Greek Transport Engineers, Greece trails behind other EU countries across five key pillars of road safety: management, driver behavior, infrastructure, vehicle condition, and post-accident care. He explained to To Vima that 51% of road deaths in Greece occur in residential areas, compared to the European average of 38%. Motorcycle rider fatalities account for 38% of road deaths in Greece, double the EU average of 18%.
“It is imperative to reduce speeds in cities,” Tsianos said, stressing the lack of pedestrian infrastructure and increasing vulnerability of pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter users.
A revised Road Traffic Code is under consultation and expected to be submitted to Parliament soon. It introduces escalating penalties for mobile phone use while driving, starting at €350 and potentially reaching €4,000 with a driving license suspension of up to eight years for repeat offenders. If such behavior results in serious injury or death, criminal penalties under the Penal Code apply.
tovima
