There has been a lot of talking in the last two days about drinking coffee while driving a car in the streets of Greece. I cannot even recall how this controversial issue arose, but the Greek Police uploaded a video with the title “Hands on the Wheel” on Monday afternoon.
🥤📱Μόνο τα χέρια στο τιμόνι!#καφες #κινητο pic.twitter.com/cFjmeSfW3C
— Ελληνική Αστυνομία (@hellenicpolice) September 2, 2024
A fine of 100 euros and removal of driving license of 30 days threaten those who police catches with on hand on the wheel and one hand holding a cup of Greeks’ favorite drink.
Speaking to Mega TV on Monday morning about the issue, police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou, clarified what exactly happens if motorists drink coffee in the car and to what extent they are at risk of a fine.
The spokeswoman recalled that this is an old provision in the Traffic code and therefore nothing new.
“The provision of the Traffic code states that the driver must not occupy his hands with anything else while driving. Hands must be on the steering wheel and his attention naturally on the road. Whatever preoccupies whether it’s mobile, or something else, whether it’s coffee or something else is a violation of the Code,” she stressed.
“It’s not a new provision, but if someone drives and constantly holds a cup of coffee in one hand, it is understood that they are not able to cope with driving and respond to something extraordinary,” she added..
It is noted that in paragraph two (2) of article 13 of the Road Traffic Code obliges drivers of the vehicles to have full freedom of movement so that they are able to carry out the necessary maneuvers in every situation. The administrative fine is 100 euros and removal of the driver’s license for 30 days.
However, when asked by Mega TV journalists “if the driver takes a sip from the coffee, will he be asked to pay a fine of 100 euros?”, the police spokeswoman responded: “I don’t think there is a citizen who has received such a fine call. It is an exaggeration.”
PS it is certainly also an “exaggeration”to check and fine all these motorists speaking on their mobile or texting while driving… On the other hand, removing their driving license would certainly easy traffic at least in Greek capital Athens.
Otherwise, we’re talking just for the sake of talking…
Usually they put it in a drink holder, and take a sip here and there. It’s not a big deal, I wonder why it became an issue. As you say, texting while driving is far more worrisome. I also have seen people roll cigarettes while driving and that is much more complicated maneuvering than sipping a drink.
They need to get drinking alcohol and driving sorted out first!!! 🤷♀️
I’d go for tackling everything that impairs the ability to drive safely BUT that would mean banning probably 80% of the so-called “qualified” drivers. Maybe it’s only Crete and Athens where the driving skills (in every sense) seem to be non-existent?
When I came here 30+ years ago an established Brit (married to a Greek) advised me to be very careful when slowing down/stopping to let tourists (and locals of course) pass by the Zebra crossing – I was told to engage the hazard lights and make a hand signal for slowing down but also to particularly look out for motor cyclists who come out of no where and couldn’t give a damn anyway! I visited Norway once, oh boy what a difference – it seemed that a car only had to spot someone near a Zebra and they would stop immediately (and also not right in your face as it were, a good distance away). Norway was a bit extreme (perhaps because Zebras prefer warmth:))