Greece holds among the highest rates of deaths in road accidents in Europe

Particularly high is the percentage of dead motorcyclists (38%) in relation to Europe, where the average is 18%, resulting from the country’s plagues. Greece unfortunately holds one of the first places in Europe in terms of traffic accidents, with more than 600 people losing their lives in 2023 and with driving at high speed being the most critical factor in their challenge. Half of the people’s losses concern traffic that occurred in residential areas. Many of the victims were motorcyclists, who usually did not wear a helmet. Indeed, the number of road deaths in our country ranks us as the 5th worst position in the European Union (EU) as regards road safety. Overall, we have one in 20 chances of getting seriously injured or resulting in a car accident during our lives! This information was released by the Hellenic Transport Association (ACS) on the occasion of the Pan-Hellenic Road Safety Week. This week is organised for the 17th consecutive year by the Institute of Road Safety (I.O.A. ) “Panos Mylonas”, in collaboration with the FTA. As the President of the ETUC, Mr Thanasis Tsianos, reports, in 2023 621 people were killed on the Greek streets. This figure corresponds to 60 dead per million inhabitants , when the EU average is 46 per million. The safest roads are located in Sweden and Denmark , where the traffic deaths are 22 and 27 per million inhabitants respectively. One of Greece’s sad firsts is that it holds one of the highest rates of death (to 50%) in traffic accidents occurring in residential areas. The European average is 38%. Motorcyclists In Greece we have a very high percentage of dead motorcyclists. In fact, 38% of the dead are bicycle drivers or passengers when the European average is 18%. It is characteristic that motorcycle drivers aged 18-24 in our country have ten times the chance to lose their lives in a car accident, compared to their peers driving a passenger vehicle. The percentage of dead motorcyclists in traffic occurring in residential areas is particularly high. It reaches 45%, compared to 20% in the EU. This fact makes the need to reduce speeds in the populated areas to 30km/h even more urgent, due to the large use of motorcycles in Greece, stressed Mr. In the majority of cases drivers and/or motor riders did not wear a helmet. In particular, 69% of the dead motorcycle and motorcycle drivers were not wearing or registered to wear a helmet. More generally, the use of helmets is lower in Greece than in the EU. The percentage of motorcycle drivers wearing a helmet is: 80% in Greece 97% in the EU Accordingly, the percentage of passenger motorcycles wearing a helmet is: 65% in Greece 95% in the EU And no seat belt The use of a seat belt is also not sufficient in our country. Passengers in the front positions of IX reach 71%, according to the ELP Baseline project. Passengers in the rear seats are only 55.8%. In addition, 79% of the dead IX drivers in traffic accidents did not wear a safety belt or were not recorded using it. Critical factors What are the critical factors contributing to serious traffic in Greece? According to specialized analysis in order of importance, the following are: Driving with high speeds High rates of motorcycle traffic Low rates of safety-belt use and helmets, especially for passengers The unorganized and unprotected traffic of vulnerable road users Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or using a mobile phone General aggressive driving Source: www.iatropedia.gr