The government on Thursday unveiled a new plan to install advanced traffic cameras nationwide to improve road safety and enforce traffic laws more effectively. The initiative seeks to reduce the number of accidents, particularly in urban areas where traffic fatalities have risen despite improvements in highway safety.
The cameras will be deployed across the Attica region initially, with plans to expand to Thessaloniki and other areas, said Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, adding that cities rather than rural areas account for the bulk of traffic accidents and many of these involve motorcycles and distracted drivers who.
“2024 has been a catalyst for traffic policing. However, the human factor cannot fully address all violations. The solution lies in smart policing and the use of new technological tools, such as traffic cameras,” he said.
The cameras will monitor violations of speed limits, red light, pedestrian crossings, helmet and seatbelt usage and the use of mobile phones while driving, as well as insurance compliance. The data collected by the cameras will be integrated into a new system managed by the Ministry of Digital Governance, which will allow for the immediate recording and notification of violations, electronic issuance of fines and the option to submit appeals digitally.
Notifications, including photos or videos of the infraction, will be sent to violators via SMS, said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, adding that the “relevant material – photos and videos – will simultaneously be sent to the Hellenic Police, where an officer will confirm the violation.”
The project will begin with the installation of 388 cameras in Attica, which will also be equipped to function in low-light conditions. Authorities will prioritize key accident-prone locations as identified by the Traffic Police.
In addition to cameras, the government has increased Traffic Police personnel, deployed more patrol motorcycles and introduced drones for better traffic management.