Greece remains at the top of negative road safety rankings Credit: Flickr / Gina Collecchia / CC BY NC ND 2-0
Low seat belt and helmet use, along with risky driving behavior, are raising serious concerns over road safety in Greece, according to a recent study by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the Hellenic Road Safety Institute “Panos Mylonas.
Observing more than 16,000 vehicles nationwide, researchers found that only 54% of drivers and front-seat passengers regularly buckle up, while usage drops sharply to 21% in the back seats.
Motorcyclist safety is also a concern. While 75% of riders wear helmets, only 46% of passengers do the same, leaving many exposed to life-threatening risks.
A Dangerous Pattern
The study reveals a persistent culture of neglect on Greek roads. Distracted driving is on the rise, with 13% of drivers using mobile phones while behind the wheel, a figure even higher among those traveling alone.
Greece continues to rank among the worst in the European Union for road safety, holding the highest rate of motorcyclist fatalities. Traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5 to 29, turning alarming statistics into daily tragedies for families across the country.
Calls for Urgent Action
Vassiliki Danelli-Mylonas, president of the Road Safety Institute, stressed the need for an immediate, coordinated response:
“We call on the government, local authorities, schools, businesses, and civil society to unite behind a national road safety strategy. This must include stronger enforcement, the use of modern monitoring technologies, and systematic evaluation of safety indicators,” she said.
Experts emphasize that improving Greece’s road safety requires more than rules on paper. It demands a cultural shift in how drivers and passengers perceive risk, reinforced by better infrastructure, consistent penalties for violations, and ongoing public awareness campaigns.
Necessary measures
The study makes clear that urgent measures are necessary to reverse dangerous trends. Increasing seat belt compliance, encouraging helmet use, and tackling distracted driving are essential to reducing fatalities and injuries.
Without immediate action, Greece risks continuing to lag behind its EU peers while families pay the human cost of preventable accidents.
By highlighting these gaps, the research provides both a wake-up call and a roadmap for improving Greece’s road safety and protecting lives on its roads.