Phones behind the wheel a fatal distraction on roads

Mobile phone use while driving has become more dangerous than drunk driving, say Greek road safety experts, warning of a growing crisis on the nation's roads. Texting, filming, and even taking selfies behind the wheel are now common behaviors contributing to a surge in serious—and often fatal—accidents.

“Some consider the car a telephone booth,” said Aris Zografos, president of the Panhellenic Association of Driving Instructors and Traffic Education. “A driver using a mobile has delayed reactions and reduced reflexes. It’s like having a blood alcohol level of 0.85 mg/lt.”

The threat extends beyond drivers. Passengers often encourage reckless behavior, driven by social media trends. “We see people filming stunts or speeding just for online views,” said Filippos Brezas, a traffic accident expert. He cited a recent crash on Attiki Odos where a motorcyclist taking a selfie overturned and collided with a vehicle.

In one tragic December 2023 incident, a car crash on Schistou Avenue left two young adults with amputated legs. The woman was reportedly filming at the time of the crash.

Police data highlights the trend: mobile phone-related traffic violations rose 11.5% in 2024, reaching nearly 19,000 cases. However, early 2025 figures suggest a 15.2% drop—thanks in part to tighter enforcement.

Thanasis Tsianos, president of the Association of Greek Transportation Engineers, noted, “Drivers using phones are four times more likely to crash, and texting increases the risk by 23 times.”

Greece continues to lag in EU road safety, ranking third worst with 64 road deaths per million residents in 2024—well above the EU average of 44.

A 2024 European study found that over 40% of Greek drivers admitted to talking on handheld phones while driving at least once in the previous month, compared to just 22.2% across 22 EU nations.

Experts are calling for stricter penalties, improved driver education, and a cultural shift away from dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.