The new Traffic Code comes into force in Greece today, September 13, 2025 and brings significant changes aimed at reducing road accidents in Greece, as well as steep fines.
The most fundamental change brought about by the new Traffic Code is the introduction of the concept of recidivism. For the first time, penalties for frequent or repeated violations of the Traffic code will not be offset, but will be implemented cumulatively.
The new penalty framework is graduated and clear. Strictness is not a punishment, but a tool for prevention.
Each violation is recorded, and if repeated, the penalty increases significantly — not only financially, but also administratively: from the withdrawal of the driving license to criminal prosecution, depending on the severity and consequences.
Changes with the new Road Traffic Code
Using a mobile phone without causing an incident
● Fine of 350 euros, withdrawal of license for 30 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st recidivism: Fine of 1,000 euros, license suspension for 180 days.
− 2nd recidivism: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 1 year.
Using a mobile phone causing an incident
● Fine of 350 euros, license suspension for 30 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 4 years.
− 2nd: Fine of 4,000 euros, license suspension for 8 years.
● Criminalization: In all 3 cases, there is application of article 290A of the Criminal Code for dangerous driving, which includes prison sentences.
● Declassification: For this specific criminal offense, the investigation may also include declassification of communications and their location and movement data, in compliance with the guarantees and procedures provided for by law.
Failure to use a protective helmet
● Fine of 350 Euros, withdrawal of license for 30 days. Failure to use a protective helmet by the passenger is punishable by a fine for the passenger (350 Euros), but also for the driver, even if he was wearing one.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 Euros, withdrawal of license for 180 days.
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 Euros, withdrawal of license for up to 1 year.
Failure to use a seat belt
● − Driver: Fine of 350 Euros, withdrawal of license for 30 days.
− Passenger: Failure to wear a seat belt by the passenger is punishable by a fine of 150 euros for the passenger and the driver, even if the passenger was wearing one.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 euros, license suspension for 180 days
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for up to 1 year
Driving under the influence of alcohol (0.50 – 1.10 g/l)
●− Modern detection methods are being established that also cover substances. Mandatory immobilisation of the vehicle and storage.
For alcohol levels of 0.50 – 0.80 g/l: Fine of 350 euros and license suspension for 30 days.
For a limit of 0.80 g/l – 1.10 g/l: Fine of 700 euros and license suspension for 90 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 euros, license suspension for 180 days in both cases.
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 1 year.
Driving under the influence of alcohol (above 1.10 g/l)
● Fine of 1,200 euros and license suspension – license plates for 180 days, the vehicle is immobilised and kept in prison from 2 months to 5 years, vehicle registration data suspension for 10 days – 6 months by the court.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 7 years.
− 2nd: Fine of 4,000 euros, license suspension for 10 years.
Exceeding the speed limit > 50km/h
●Fine of 700 euros and withdrawal of license for 60 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 euros, withdrawal of license for up to 180 days.
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 1 year.
Speeding >200km/h or “wrong”
● Fine of 2,000 euros and withdrawal of license for 1 year
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 4,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 2 years.
− 2nd: Fine of 8,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 4 years.
Violating a traffic light
●Fine of 700 euros and withdrawal of license for 60 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 euros, license suspension for up to 180 days
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 1 year
STOP violation (without causing an incident)
● Fine of 350 euros and license suspension for 30 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 1,000 euros, license suspension for up to 180 days.
− 2nd: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 1 year.
STOP violation (with causing an incident)
● Fine of 700 euros and license suspension for 60 days.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 2,000 euros and withdrawal of license for 4 years
− 2nd: Fine of 4,000 euros and withdrawal of license for 8 years
Driving without a license
● Fine of 1,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 1 year, imprisonment up to 2 years. In the event of an accident, the provisions of the Criminal Code for dangerous driving apply.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 2,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 4 years.
− 2nd: Fine of 4,000 euros, withdrawal of license for 8 years.
Obstruction of railway traffic
● Fine of 1,200 euros, withdrawal of license for 60 days, imprisonment up to 5 years and fine 2,000 euros.
● Recidivism:
− 1st: Fine of 2,000 euros, license suspension for 4 years.
− 2nd: Fine of 4,000 euros, license suspension for 8 years.
Obstruction of public transport
● Illegal stopping or parking that obstructs the passage of public transport vehicles is coded as a violation.
● Fine of 350 euros and license suspension for 70 days.
Taxi traffic in bus lanes
● − Fine of 150 euros when the bus lane is violated
− Taxi traffic (and loaded vehicles) in the bus lane is prohibited in order to ensure the speed and reliability of the new fleet of buses in Athens and Thessaloniki.
● Exceptions:
- 1. Boarding
- 2. Disembarking (when a bus is not obstructed)
- 3. Nighttime
- 4. Zero Emission Taxi
- 5. Special Type of Disabled Taxi
Parking in a Disabled Space
● − An increased administrative fine of 150 euros is imposed.
− Removal of driving license and plates for 60 days, while the vehicle is towed on the spot.
● Recidivism:
− 1st recidivism: Fine of 1,000 euros, removal of license for 180 days.
− 2nd recidivism: Fine of 2,000 euros, removal of license for 1 year.
Speed Limits
● − Until January 1, 2026, the general limit of 50 km/h is maintained.
− From 2026, new speed limits will be implemented, depending on the type of road, unless otherwise specified by signage. [via state-run news agency amna.gr]
A new Traffic Code has been deemed necessary a while ago, as traffic accidents very often with fatal consequences and abandonment of the victim are daily in the last year.
Oh well…1st: it’s about time!!!
2nd: To catch all these @ssholes on the roads there has to be police presence everywhere
3rd: Even if they are taking away the driving licence, they still driving their cars!!!
Greeks have no respect for the law and tbh…the police is useless in Greece…especially in Athens!!!
I bet the drubks are quaking in their boiots. If you have any alcohol in your system your vehicle shoud be crushed and you should have to take the test again. Its ok to be drunbk if you dont cause an accident? crazy. is it ok for ne to shoot a gun so long as no one dies? The best policing is to use citizens dashcams to catch criminal drivers. I always have a dashcam And I catch 10 to 20 peopl a day speeding, using phones, no helmet, no seat belt. If teh police would use it they can have it but they do nothing
Does “Recidivism” have a specific definition?
Where a system of accumulating points for each offence is used, points accumulate for different offences until you reach a limit when you lose your licence for a period of time but also points dissappear after a period of time. Does “Recidivism” work in a similar way and if so what is the time period? For example if you commited a mobile offence and then 2 months later commited an alcohol offence would the alcohol offence be treated as “Recidivism”. Similarly if you commited one of the offences described in the article and then commited it again 20 years later would that be “Recidivism”?
It all looks super written down but will they be good law abiding citizens 🤔
All very well trying to implement this, but they need a dedicated traffic branch that will do the job of policing this. Most offenders believe that they can get away with a second offense while riding and driving in their local areas. (Village mentality) If the police were given a monetary incentive, like a commission on all tickets they wrote, they might be more inclined to do their jobs instead of sitting around having coffee and talking on their mobile phones. The attitude here, is this is Greece and everyone just shrugs their shoulders. There is no accountability. In relation to cars being illegally parked, why not have them towed and the owners will have to pay a fine, the storage and tow truck operators fees before the car is released back to them. There is so much wrong with the attitude here and no one seems to care.
I don’t know where you found this horrible word “recidivism”, but it is not correct. The actual legal term is “repeated offence” — something used in normal English and therefore comprehensible to everyone.
🤣
Also – vehicles are “seized” by the police and placed in “impound” (the place where they’re taken away from the owner) or are “impounded” (the verb).
Also, licenses and registrations are “suspended” even though for years the police have had the discretion to take someone’s license on the spot.
I appreciate your summary of the new laws and it is very overdue. So many lives lost, especially to helmets, seatbelts and reckless driving.
Thank you for clarifying!! Had never heard this word before but understood the context
Hope they get them all!!!