Crete records largest drop in traffic deaths in Greece

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Konstantinos Kyrianakis presented Greece’s new road‑safety strategy at the Economist‑Powergame conference in Chania. He said the country posted the second‑largest reduction in road‑traffic fatalities in the EU for 2025 and highlighted that Crete achieved a 37 % decline in traffic deaths within a year—the biggest drop among all Greek regions.

The programme relies on five pillars: a stricter traffic code, tougher alcohol and helmet checks, AI‑powered cameras to record violations, large‑scale road‑infrastructure upgrades, and institutional cooperation with victims’ associations and civil‑society groups. A digital risk‑map pinpointing high‑danger spots and an SMS‑reminder campaign have also been introduced. The government aims to cut traffic fatalities by 50 % by 2030.

Kyrianakis quoted the analysis: “Αναλύσαμε σε βάθος τα δεδομένα … για να δούμε πού, πότε και γιατί χάνονται ανθρώπινες ζωές στους δρόμους. Πάνω σε αυτά τα στοιχεία σχεδιάσαμε μια νέα στρατηγική που ήδη αποδίδει αποτελέσματα.”