The Athens Municipal Police conduct daily extensive checks to enforce the Highway Code (KOK) in the city center, as part of the municipal authority’s commitment to freeing up public space and ensuring full accessibility to sidewalks and pedestrian streets.

The numbers paint a rather bleak picture of citizens’ behavior, as in just 12 days (from January 13 to January 24), a total of 5,270 violations were recorded. The policing plan focused on key streets and areas, including Amerikis, Akadimias, Sekeri, Solonos, Acharnon, Patision, Kolonaki, 3rd September, Aristotelous, Panormou, Pagkrati/Mets, Charilaou Trikoupi, Ippokratous, Athinas, Ermou, Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Aiolou, Filellinon, Amalias, and Piraeus.

Of these violations, 44% involved vehicles parked on sidewalks and pedestrian streets. Specifically, 583 violations were for parking at corners, 217 for parking on pedestrian crossings, 100 for double parking, 2,119 for parking on sidewalks, and 209 for parking on pedestrian streets. Additionally, 1,895 vehicles were parked in no-stopping/no-parking zones (P-40), while 147 were completely inconsiderate, blocking wheelchair ramps.

In total, in 2024, the Municipal Police have recorded 471,785 traffic violations, 4,706 of which involved inconsiderate parking (blocking wheelchair ramps and designated disabled parking spaces). In 16,625 cases, license plates and/or driving licenses were confiscated.

To combat illegal parking, the Municipal Police have dedicated patrol units ensuring smooth traffic flow and decongesting roads around Syntagma, Monastiraki, Omonia, and Karaiskaki squares. Traffic enforcement operations in Athens will continue with the goal of improving road safety and accessibility in the city’s public spaces.