Greece: the number of accidents increased sharply this summer

An explosive increase in the number of accidents in Attica and in the south of the Aegean is reported by the traffic police of Greece. Speeding, improper overtaking, driving into the oncoming lane and talking on a mobile phone are the main causes of accidents.

In the first two summer months of 2023, there was significantly more blood spilled on Greek asphalt than in previous years, according to EL.AS data, which shows an increase in all traffic accident-related numbers across the country compared to the corresponding summer months 2022.

The gloomy situation on the roads in almost all regions is evidenced by daily news reports of fatal crashes, the victims of which are mainly young people.

Only in the last few days in Thessaloniki, a 23-year-old woman has tragically died when a truck crane crashed into her car. In Nafpaktos, a 17-year-old motorcycle driver died after an accident on the Varia coastal road. And on Wednesday, a family tragedy occurred on the Thessaloniki-Serres national road: a passenger car collided with a truck, as a result of which the driver and passenger of the car, a husband and wife from Romania, were instantly killed. Two of their children were also injured, who were hospitalized in “Papageorgiou”, and the eldest is in critical condition. “I didn’t notice anything,” a Bulgarian truck driver told police.

Sad statistic

The official data of the National Police, for the period from June 1 to July 31, record a 2-fold increase compared to the same two months last year, both in the number of traffic accidents and in casualties and injuries (dead, seriously injured, lightly injured) .

Thus, in the region of the South Aegean Sea, where the popular Cyclades Islands are located, annually chosen by Greek and foreign tourists for recreation, in June-July, the largest number of serious traffic accidents was registered after the Attica region and the second place in the country in terms of the number of seriously injured.

Road deaths up 27.8% in May

“The main causes of traffic accidents in the summer months this year again became speeding, overtaking, driving into the oncoming lane, violation of the order of travel and distracting the driver by any means, but especially with a mobile phone. These are the main causes of accidents throughout the year, according to the report of the Greek police.

As well as traffic violations by pedestrians,” adds EL.AΣ spokeswoman Constantina Demoglidou to the report. The Panos Mylonas Institute for Road Safety (IOAS) notes: “The latest ELSTAT data is relentless: there was a 27.8% increase in traffic deaths and injuries in May compared to the same month in 2022. This is due to the fact that road users are more relaxed and often more carefree in summer. Late parties swimming, diversion to “noisy” summer groups are not arguments in favor of road safety Empty cities where high speeds are developed and problematic back roads are risk factors.

The lack of a systematic presence of traffic police officers on the roads is also a factor complicating the situation, especially after the coronavirus season, when the number of traffic accidents has increased dramatically. IOAS “Panos Mylonas” aims to prevent and reduce road accidents through educational programs and public awareness campaigns, the latest of which was “Enjoy your visit to Greece – be safe on and off the roads”, organized jointly with Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”“.

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