In July 2023, we had a 22.5% increase in road crashes compared to July 2022, demonstrating Greece’s poor road safety performance compared to other European countries.
Last year, in 2022, our country dropped 2 positions, from the 21st place to the 23rd place in the EU ranking. This fact indeed proves that road safety and good behaviour are not a priority neither for the citizens nor for the Authorities. We constantly observe indifference around us, both from motorcyclists who do not wear helmets and from Traffic Police who do not punish the offenders. This results in the mistaken impression that not wearing a helmet is safe, which may be the main reason for our poor road safety performance in Greece.
It is worth noting that in the European Union, motorcycle fatalities account for about 18%, while the corresponding percentage in Greece is 36%, indicating a very serious problem. Traffic counts show that helmet use rates throughout the European Union are 98-99%, whereas in Greece, it is 80% for the front passenger and 60% for the rear. This essentially leads to exactly twice as many motorcycle fatalities compared to other Member States. If particular attention is focused on this issue, we can dramatically improve our safety figures.
The inadequate enforcement
The culture is a joint responsibility of citizens and the Authorities; when the Authorities is apathetic, so do the citizens. For decades, there has been talk of the Road Traffic Code (RTC), specifically an effort to update the 2017 RTC. A new RTC was drafted, awaiting a series of ministerial decisions that never came, so today we are still operating under the 2007 RTC. Transportation Engineers have been saying for decades that we need many penalties but with low-cost fines, however, we have exactly the opposite: very few penalties with high-cost fines, making it difficult for Traffic Police to impose them and, therefore, leading to a lack of systematic enforcement. We need a modern RTC that, depending on whether you repeatedly commit an offense, foresees many checks and low fines. This is the way it could work in Greece, but it may be difficult to be achieved; citizens do not ask for it, and, neither does the Authorities. A smart way to implement fines is to double or triple them incrementally if the driver repeats the same offense, which is a smarter way to enforce them.
Driver’s license revocation
The revocation of driver’s licenses is not an effective method as there is a phenomenon where Police Officers may do favors by returning them to offenders. There should be a system that is not susceptible to human hand; offenders should receive their fines through their mobile phones, possibly paying them through the web portal, the digital service of the Greek ministries. Thus, it is important to understand that when they commit an offense, they will pay for it, especially since many violations are not paid today. This will radically change drivers’ behaviour.
The use of cameras
It is obvious that the Traffic Police cannot be everywhere. What is needed is a system of cameras, which now in Europe record not only speed and red-light violations but also mobile phone, seatbelt and helmet use. These need to be automated, integrated into our daily lives so that we change behaviour and avoid grieving so many human lives.
The speed
Particular emphasis should be given on speed. We have underestimated speed, both drivers and the Authorities. We all think our speeds are fine, but in reality, they are not, as evidenced by the numbers compared to EU. More specifically, in Greece, over 50% of drivers regularly exceed speed limits, while in Europe, this number is around an average of 30%. Speeding and helmet use are the two major issues on which we need to focus, both as citizens, if we want to be safe, and as the Authorities, if we want to create a safe environment around us.
Road crashes are due to a series of human errors that have occurred. As we see in international trends, 60-70% of crashes are due to one or both drivers speeding, especially within urban areas, and particularly motorcyclists, of whom 65% are seen driving above the speed limit. This phenomenon also occurs with delivery motorcycles, which often ride recklessly on roads, even in the opposite direction, to meet delivery deadlines, resulting in chaos on the roads.
It is essential to focus on issues related to safety rather than convenience or comfort. Obviously, there are concerns with parked vehicles and delivery drivers, but that is not where the major safety issue lies. Both the Mass Media and Scientists, along with the Authorities, should take action to convey the message of lower speeds, with particular emphasis on helmet use for motorcyclists.
Interview in the broadcast Xwris Piloto on the radio station SKAI 100,3 in September 2023
Leave A Comment