Greek FIA Club, Road Safety Institute (RSI ‘Panos Mylonas’), significantly shaped the new national road safety policy through its FIA Road Safety Grants Programme work, supported by the FIA Foundation.

Although Greece had seen a significant reduction of 54% in road fatalities between 2010 and 2020, death rates rose by 4.9% between 2023 and 2024. 

The club project ‘Driving Change’ included a large-scale field survey in three cities - Athens, Psachna, and Heraklion – revealing significantly low seatbelt and helmet-wearing rates, as well as excessive use of mobile phones while driving. 

The Greek government has announced major road safety policy changes, including an updated Greek Highway Code (KOK), informed by the findings of the club’s study, alongside infrastructure improvements, road speed reductions, and stricter enforcement. The changes were announced by Vice President of the Government, Kostis Hatzidakis, at the RSI ‘Panos Mylonas’ 20th anniversary event during United Nations Global Road Safety Week.  

Acknowledging the significant contribution of RSI ‘Panos Mylonas’, a Ministerial Decree was signed for the creation of a new Road Safety Centre to support road safety education and awareness activities. 

Addressing the conference, Vice President Hatzidakis said: “Every life lost on the road is a story that never got to be completed. A home that falls silent. Let us all - the State, institutions, and every citizen - do our utmost to strengthen road safety. This is not just a technical or economic matter, nor simply legislative. It’s a matter of humanity.”

RSI ‘Panos Mylonas’ President of the Board of Directors Vassiliki Danelli-Mylona said: “The new Highway Code marks a vital step forward in enhancing Road Safety in our country. The findings of the ‘Driving Change’ research, carried out by RSI ‘Panos Mylonas’ with the support of FIA Foundation, confirmed the urgent need for intervention. These findings, as well as other proposals submitted by our Institute, contribute to updating the new Highway Code. RSI will continue to lead change in the sector of Road Safety - as we have consistently done during the last 20 years- through educational programs, awareness raising campaigns, research initiatives, with commitment to our goal: a world without road traffic crashes.”

Image credit Paterakis Photos