Important and rather strange regulations and penalties under the new Greek Highway Code.
The valid new Greek road traffic regulations
Helmet and Seatbelt Requirements
Drivers and passengers have to wear a helmet when riding motorcycles. If they skip it, both get a €350 fine and lose their licence for 30 days.
Car drivers who don’t fasten their seatbelt—or don’t secure a child in a proper seat—face the same €350 fine and suspension. Passengers without a seatbelt pay €150.
Dangerous Driving for Show or Street Racing
Street racing or showing off with dangerous driving? That’s a €2,000 fine and a one-year ban from driving.
Careless driving, even if it’s not super risky, brings a €150 fine. If you scare or disturb others with your driving, you might get the same penalty.
Leaving stuff or liquids on the road and blocking traffic costs €350. If a passenger throws something from the car, it’s €150, but if the driver does it, they can lose their licence for 40 days.
Using a Mobile Phone While Driving
Using your phone while driving is a no-go. The fine is €350 and they’ll suspend your licence for 30 days.
This covers any handheld device use that distracts you behind the wheel. Road safety first, right?
Red Light Violations and Their Consequences
Running a red light now means a €700 fine and immediate licence suspension. If you keep doing it, penalties get even tougher under the new rules.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense. You’ll face heavy fines, lose your licence, and could even see criminal charges.
The latest laws really crack down on this, since drunk driving leads to more accidents.
Leaving the Scene After an Accident
If you leave the scene after causing a crash, that’s a felony now. Drivers who abandon victims can go to jail and lose their licence for a long time.
This change puts a spotlight on responsibility after accidents. It’s about keeping everyone safe and making sure people don’t just run off.
New Traffic Rules: Penalties for Driving Without a Licence
The latest traffic laws in Greece now treat driving without a licence as a much bigger deal. It’s no longer something you can shrug off—they’re cracking down with direct consequences.
If the police catch you without a licence, things move fast. The prosecutor has to file charges right away, not weeks or months later.
Fines start at €2,000 but can go up fast depending on the case. On top of that, you could spend up to a year in jail.
Authorities can also immobilise your car, so you’re not driving off again anytime soon. If you cause an accident that hurts or kills someone, the punishment jumps way higher.
In those cases, the law allows up to 20 years in prison. That’s a huge responsibility for anyone behind the wheel.
Penalty Type |
Details |
|---|---|
Fine |
€2,000 minimum, up to €40,000 |
Imprisonment |
Up to 1 year for basic offence |
Vehicle Immobilisation |
Vehicle may be taken out of service |
Serious Accidents |
Up to 20 years imprisonment for injury or death |
Enforcement is strict and quick—no more excuses or endless delays. They want to make sure people know: driving without a licence just isn’t worth the risk.
By spelling out the penalties and actually following through, the new code hopes to scare off unlicensed drivers. It’s all about keeping roads safer for everyone.
New Traffic Code: Impact on Tourist Coaches and Drivers’ Concerns Over Passenger Drop-offs on Roads
The updated traffic rules are making life tough for tourist coach drivers. They’re struggling to drop off passengers at hotels because of new limits on crossing double solid lines and fewer places to pull in.
Some drivers say they end up leaving tourists on busy roads, which feels risky. It’s not like they want to do it, but sometimes there’s just nowhere else to stop.
Many hotels, especially the big ones between Kastelli Kissamos and Sitia, don’t actually have proper access for coaches. No legal entry, and with double lines, buses can’t just turn in.
So, drivers sometimes have to stop right on the main road, blocking traffic for a bit. Not ideal—for anyone.
Drivers make it clear: they won’t break the law just to help hotels in tricky spots. It’s dangerous, and honestly, they don’t want to risk fines or accidents.
Some are tired of getting blamed by passengers when they have to stop in awkward places. It’s a tough spot for everyone involved.
Problem |
Details |
|---|---|
Lack of coach access roads |
Many hotels lack proper entrances for large buses |
Traffic restrictions |
Double solid lines prevent coaches from legally crossing |
Safety hazards |
Coaches stopping on main roads create risk for all |
Driver safety and legality |
Drivers unwilling to break laws risking fines or accidents |
Passenger inconvenience |
Tourists dropped on roads must cross dangerous areas |
Coach operators want urgent changes—either new laws or better infrastructure—so they can safely and legally enter hotels. Right now, the situation isn’t great for visitors or drivers, and it’s messing with the whole tourism vibe.
There’s got to be a way to keep things safe and still let big tourist buses do their job, don’t you think?
New Traffic Rules 2025: Some Offences That Sound More Like Comedy
The updated traffic code just landed, and honestly, some of the new rules are more surprising than you’d expect. A few of them sound so odd, you might think someone’s pulling your leg—but nope, break them and you’ll pay real fines.
Let’s start with smartwatches. If you check notifications on your smartwatch while driving, the law treats it just like using your phone.
That means a fine starting at €350 and a one-month driving ban. Do it again, and the penalties get steeper, and if you cause an accident, well, you’re looking at serious trouble—possibly even prison.
Footwear is another one. There’s no outright ban on flip-flops, slippers, or high heels.
But you have to wear shoes that let you control the car safely. If an officer thinks your shoes are unsafe, you could get fined anywhere from €100 to €350.
So, those comfy slippers or party heels? They might land you in hot water if you can’t drive properly in them.
Eating or drinking at the wheel also gets attention now. Holding your coffee or a snack can distract you, and the law’s not joking about it.
If they catch you distracted, you’re risking penalties. Even something that seems minor, like sipping water, can get flagged if it takes your focus off the road.
The law now stipulates the following for driving with pets in the car:
Animals in the car must be secured or placed in a cage or special transport device so that they do not distract the driver.
The penalty is otherwise €500 and a 60-day driving ban.
If your dog sticks its head out of the window, you might as well get out of the car – at least from a traffic point of view.
If the passenger is not wearing a helmet, the driver will also be fined:
If the passenger on a two-wheeler is not wearing a helmet, the driver will also be fined – even if they are wearing a helmet.
A fine of €350 for the driver and €350 for the passenger. Repeat offenders? A fine of €2,000 and a driving ban for one year.
Ultimately, motorcycling is a team sport: if one person makes a mistake, everyone pays for it.
Parking in a disabled parking space: not just a simple stop!
Even a few minutes of illegal parking in a disabled parking space is punished with very harsh penalties.
Withdrawal of driving licence and number plates for 60 days; in the event of a repeat offence, we impose a fine of up to €2,000 and withdrawal of the licence for 1 year.
Think twice before parking in the disabled parking space at the supermarket. Parking for a few minutes has become a risky business.
Summary of some key lesser-known offences and fines:
Offence |
Penalty Range |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Using smartwatch while driving |
€350 to €2,000 + driving bans |
Increases significantly with repeat offences |
Unsafe footwear while driving |
€100 to €350 |
No specific shoe banned, depends on driver safety |
Eating/drinking at the wheel |
Penalty varies |
Considered distraction; fined if deemed dangerous |
Honestly, it’s a weird mix—old-school safety stuff mixed with rules for gadgets and habits nobody thought about years ago. You might laugh at some of these, but if you’re not careful, that joke could cost you more than you bargained for.
Drivers now have to pay attention to many small details that no one used to care about. Suddenly, even shoes or a quick glance at a smartwatch play a major role.
The latest highlights:
The famous incident involving a driver in Crete who was fined for using a smartwatch to make a phone call while driving sparked a discussion about wearables. The incident went viral on social media and sparked dozens of humorous memes.
A video also went viral showing a tourist in Paros riding barefoot on a rented ATV and having his driving licence revoked on the spot – while he protested: ‘But it doesn’t need a driving licence, it’s a “pig”, not a car or motorbike!’
The new KOK shows that an era of strictness is beginning on Greek roads, without having to forego humour. Now we know: smartwatches, slippers and takeaway food are no longer as harmless as we previously thought.
