Traffic law

Police on Wednesday arrested three drivers engaged in street racing at speeds exceeding 140km/h on coastal Poseidonos Avenue in Athens' southern Palaio Faliro district.

Traffic officers impounded the vehicles of the drivers, aged 19, 31 and 34, who had exceeded the speed limit by over 80km/h.

In the aftermath of a series of road accidents over the past months that claimed numerous lives and left several injured, experts have urged precautions, emphasizing the importance of regulating the deactivation of speed limiters and implementing frequent tachograph checks.

In a recent turn of events, the sale of vehicles seized from individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has commenced. The Ministry of Interior reports a decline in such incidents following amendments to the Penal Code allowing vehicle confiscation from offenders.

Two men have been remanded in custody after appearing before an investigating magistrate in Piraeus in relation to the fatal injury earlier this week of a 29-year-old officer of the Dias police motorcycle unit after a road chase.

The two men, aged 17 and 20, have been charged with joining and participating in a criminal organization.

The utilization of toll system cameras for speeding fines faces a delay until mid-2024, Minister of Regional Development Andrey Tsekov revealed. In response to queries from MP Hristo Terziyski, Tsekov clarified that drivers cannot presently be fined for speeding based on these uncertified cameras.

In view of the death of six people in seven road accidents over 24 hours from Thursday through to Friday, activists are calling for stiffer penalties and reduction of speed limits.

SOS Traffic Crimes, set up by relatives of traffic victims, has been pushing for a change in the legal framework, as currently road accidents are legally designated a misdemeanor or manslaughter. 

Drivers in Greece face hefty fines and potential license suspension for wearing thick jackets or coats while behind the wheel. Under the new regulations, offenders could be fined 100 euros and lose their driver's license for 30 days. In more severe cases involving accidents, individuals might even face up to 3 years in prison, as per reports from Nova TV.

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov disclosed alarming statistics regarding intoxicated driving incidents in Bulgaria, shedding light on notable shifts compared to the previous year.

A 41-year-old police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a Roma youth during a weekend altercation with police following a car chase in Viotia is expected to appear before a prosecutor on Thursday.

In a startling incident in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, a child, estimated to be 5-6 years old, was spotted steering a public transport bus. The alarming event occurred on line number 10, with witnesses describing a risky journey through the bustling "Trakia" district. The child, sitting on the driver's lap, reportedly handled the wheel for about ten minutes before disembarking at the next stop.