The Hellenic Police have planned to take increased road safety measures in view of the festive period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany, in order to ensure the safe movement of citizens and the prevention of road accidents.

The planning was carried out under the supervision of the Traffic Police Directorate of the Hellenic Police Headquarters and includes the basic guidelines for the development of measures throughout the country’s road network, as well as individual interventions, based on local problems and the particular traffic conditions prevailing in each wider region or district.

The measures will be developed gradually from December 20 to January 8, and will peak on the days of mass entry and exit of vehicles from and to major urban centres.

The design of the measures includes:

– Sectoral policing of the road network, based on the specific traffic conditions of each area.

– Increased police presence and targeted policing at points on the road network where there is a high frequency of road accidents.

– Increased traffic police measures at the entrances and exits of large urban centres, where there is heavy vehicle traffic.

– Regulation of traffic with pedestrian traffic policemen at key intersections to avoid traffic congestion.

– Setting up general and special traffic control teams, focusing attention on the confirmation of dangerous offences (speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, improper overtaking, etc.), as well as offences which, according to statistics, are responsible for causing serious traffic accidents (use of mobile phones while driving).

– Increased traffic control measures in places where there is a mass concentration of passengers (airports, ports, railway stations, etc.)

– Local traffic regulations, where festive events will take place.

– Presence of traffic officers at the toll stations of the country to facilitate traffic, inform and advise drivers and passengers.

– Informing citizens through Communication Services, in any case where it becomes necessary to inform the public widely about the existence of any traffic and other problems.

At the same time, particular emphasis will be placed on preventive and deterrent presence, through the conduct of traffic law checks and drunkenness tests (alcohol tests) to address “dangerous” violations, which are the main causes, mainly of fatal road accidents

It should be noted that throughout the implementation of the measures, both the personnel and the means of the Greek Police, mainly the Traffic Police Services, will be in increased operational readiness. Specifically, patrol cars, motorcycles and conventional vehicles will be made available with the appropriate personnel and equipment for the effective policing of the country’s road network.

Prohibition of trucks over 3.5 tons during the festive period of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany

In addition to the above measures and for safer movement of vehicles and improvement of road traffic during the Christmas, New Year and Epiphany holiday period, in addition to the facilitation and traffic measures to be taken at the local level, a ban on the circulation of all lorries with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tonnes will be in force.

Specifically, for the exit road, the truck curfew will be in effect on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, Friday, December 27, 2024, and Friday, January 3, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday, December 28, 2024, and Saturday, January 4, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Tuesday, December 31, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For the entrance stream, the ban will be in effect on Thursday, December 26, 2024, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, and Monday, January 6, 2025, from 15:00 to 21:00.