Greece restricts heavy truck traffic for the August 15 holiday period
The Hellenic Police will impose temporary traffic restrictions on heavy trucks weighing more than 3.5 tonnes during the August 15 holiday period, known as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, as part of nationwide measures to improve road safety and traffic flow.
The restrictions will apply on selected motorways and national roads on August 14, 15 and 16, 2026, with traffic police deploying increased measures across Greece.
When will heavy truck restrictions apply?
The restrictions will be introduced in specific directions on major road networks during periods of increased holiday traffic.
On Friday, August 14, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, August 15, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., heavy trucks will be prohibited from travelling toward major holiday destinations on designated sections of the:
- A8 Athens–Patras motorway, toward Patras
- A1 Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzoni motorway, toward Thessaloniki
- Thessaloniki–Nea Moudania National Road, toward Halkidiki
- A11 Schimatari–Chalkida motorway, toward Chalkida
- Thessaloniki–Kavala National Road, toward Kavala
- A5 Ionia Odos, toward Ioannina
- A7 Central Peloponnese motorway, toward Kalamata
- A71 Lefktro–Sparta motorway, toward Sparta
- Antirrio–Arta–Ioannina National Road, toward Ioannina
- Thessaloniki–Polygyros National Road, toward Polygyros
- A3 Central Greece motorway, toward Kalambaka
- A52 Aktio–Amvrakia Road, toward Aktio
The restrictions are designed to reduce congestion on routes expected to experience increased traffic during the holiday period.
Return traffic restrictions on August 16
On Sunday, August 16, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., restrictions will apply in the opposite directions as holidaymakers return.
These include the A8 toward Athens, the A1 toward Athens, the Nea Moudania–Thessaloniki road toward Thessaloniki, the A11 toward Athens, and the Thessaloniki–Kavala road toward Thessaloniki.
Restrictions will also apply on the A5 toward Rio, the A7 toward Athens, the A71 toward Lefktro, the Antirrio–Arta–Ioannina road toward Antirrio, the Thessaloniki–Polygyros road toward Thessaloniki, the A3 toward Lamia and Athens, and the A52 toward the Ionia Odos connection.
Which vehicles are exempt?
The Hellenic Police said a number of vehicles will be exempt from the restrictions because of their essential or emergency functions.
These include road assistance vehicles, trucks transporting live animals and certain perishable food products, refrigerated vehicles carrying fresh fruit and vegetables, and water tankers operating in response to forest fires.
Vehicles operated by public utility companies such as electricity, telecommunications and gas providers may also be exempt when responding to emergency network failures, provided they carry the required documentation.
Other exemptions include emergency vehicles, vehicles transporting medical oxygen, fuel tankers supplying firefighting operations, vehicles transporting military material and vehicles involved in emergency response operations.
Trucks transporting equipment for theatrical, musical, television and film productions, racing vehicles and specialized racing service vehicles are also among the exempt categories.
Increased traffic measures nationwide
The Hellenic Police said additional traffic measures will be implemented throughout Greece during the August 15 holiday period.
Authorities are encouraging drivers to plan their journeys carefully and follow traffic instructions as major roads are expected to experience increased traffic before and after the holiday.
