Parliament passes tougher road traffic law with broad support
The Greek Parliament overwhelmingly approved a new Road Traffic Code on Wednesday, introducing tougher penalties for repeat traffic offenders in a bid to improve road safety and reduce accident-related fatalities.
The bill, officially titled “The Road Traffic Code and Other Regulations from Plenary,” received cross-party support. It passed in principle with votes from New Democracy (ND), PASOK–KINAL, SYRIZA, Niki, and Spartiates. Only the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Elliniki Lysi voted against it, while Nea Aristera and Plefsi Eleftherias abstained with a ‘present’ vote.
The legislation introduces stricter fines and penalties for serious offenses such as using a mobile phone while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, excessive speeding, and hit-and-run incidents. Repeat violations will now face escalating consequences, including higher fines, longer suspensions of driving licenses, and even jail time.
Key Penalties:
Use of mobile phone while driving: €350 fine and 30-day license suspension; higher fines and up to 8-year license suspension for repeat offenses.
Driving under the influence (alcohol >1.20 g/l): €1,200 fine, 180-day license suspension, and up to 5 years in jail. Fines rise to €4,000 for repeated violations.
Hit-and-run: Now classified as a criminal offense, including incidents that endanger life without resulting in death.
In a statement, Alternate Infrastructure and Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis emphasized that the new law “does not aim at punishment, but at prevention,” citing fatality statistics that place Greece above the European average in road deaths.
Additional measures include banning taxis from bus lanes—with limited exceptions—and establishing a new Road Safety Operations Center that will use surveillance to monitor violations. The law also mandates harsher penalties for parking in disabled spaces, with a €150 fine and 60-day license suspension for first offenses.
The minister confirmed that the Code now allows drug testing during roadside checks, addressing another significant cause of fatal accidents.
Speed limits will also be revised from January 2026, with current 50 km/h urban limits remaining in place until then, unless otherwise posted.
