New changes coming to Greece’s highway code: Limits on elderly license renewals – Motorcycles to start only with helmet on
The Greek government is preparing significant reforms aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Among the upcoming measures are restrictions on renewing driving licenses for elderly drivers and the introduction of technology that would prevent motorcycles from starting unless the rider is wearing a helmet, using Artificial Intelligence.
Currently, elderly drivers can renew their licenses with a simple medical certificate — a process that has allowed renewals through “friendly” doctors even when health conditions do not meet the necessary safety standards.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is considering a new system that will digitize the entire process, recording and making accessible the identity of the doctor who issues each certificate. The platform will be linked to IDIKA, which holds the complete medical history of citizens.
This means, for example, that if a doctor certifies that an elderly driver has excellent vision, that claim can be cross-checked against actual medical data, reducing the possibility of false declarations.
If an elderly driver is involved in a traffic accident, authorities will review their medical file, assess their fitness to drive, and examine the doctor who signed the renewal. Any inconsistencies between the medical certificate and the driver’s true condition could hold the doctor accountable.
Following the most recent update of the Highway Code, preliminary data for 2025 show notable improvements. Comparing the first ten months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, road fatalities fell by 18.6%, equivalent to 104 fewer deaths.
The government aims to continue this downward trend into 2026 and consolidate it in the long term, which is why a new package of measures is being promoted.
Helmet-detection system to block motorcycle ignition
The reform package also includes new technology to protect motorcyclists. The Ministry of Transport is evaluating a system that prevents a motorcycle from starting unless the rider is wearing a helmet.
The technology, already tested, uses a specialized sensor combined with artificial intelligence. The cost is estimated at around €1 million, and the system can be installed on motorcycles manufactured from the year 2000 onwards.
The planned implementation would require riders caught by authorities without a helmet to have the mechanism installed on their motorcycle. This way, repeat violations would be impossible, as the vehicle would not start unless a helmet is worn.
