Greece Launches Updated Road Safety Action Plan

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Road safety is at the center of a national plan budgeted at 450 million euros, presented on Wednesday at the Hellenic Motor Museum by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The ambitious program, to be financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), includes an updated legal framework, revised driver testing requirements, tougher penalties for driving schools, road and signage upgrades and improvements at 7,000 dangerous points countrywide including the highly dangerous Patra-Pyrgos roadway, information and awareness campaigns, and incentives for vehicle renewal.

Together with Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis and his deputy Yiannis Kefalogiannis, Mitsotakis unveiled the plan which focuses on four key points: safe roads, responsible drivers, traffic education, and fair rules that apply to all.

Through the plan Greece is looking to reduce the number of annual road accidents. According to WHO data published in 2018, Greece recorded 943 road traffic accident deaths or 0.94 percent of all deaths.

“These are small changes that could, however, make the difference between life and death,” the PM said.

Mitsotakis also said that delayed road projects across the country would be re-started and completed and that road safety education would be incorporated into school curriculums.