Greece Declares Record Fall in Road Deaths at United Nations

Greece highlighted its significant progress in road safety at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety in New York, announcing a 22% reduction in road fatalities during 2025.

Secretary General for Transport Stelios Sakaretsios told delegates that Greece recorded 517 road deaths in 2025, down from 665 in 2024. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the figure represents the country’s lowest number of traffic fatalities since 1963 and one of the largest annual reductions recorded across the European Union.

The improvement far exceeded the EU average decline of approximately 3% during the same period.

Addressing the international summit, Sakaretsios reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to the global target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by at least 50% by 2030.

He stressed that road safety extends beyond transportation policy, describing it as an issue that also involves public health, law enforcement, infrastructure, education and road-user behaviour.

Greek officials attributed the decline in fatalities to a comprehensive road safety strategy that includes the implementation of the new Highway Code, targeted enforcement against high-risk offences—including speeding, drink driving, failure to wear helmets or seat belts, red-light violations and dangerous driving—and the deployment of artificial intelligence-powered traffic enforcement cameras.

The government also highlighted ongoing upgrades to the national road network, improved use of traffic data to identify high-risk locations and periods, and the introduction of 24-hour public transport services in Athens every Saturday, providing a safer alternative for late-night travel, particularly for younger people.

Despite the encouraging results, Greece told the UN there is no room for complacency, stressing that every life lost on the road is preventable.

Looking ahead, the government said it will continue focusing on protecting vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists and pedestrians, tackling speeding and drink driving, and making greater use of data-driven policies to reduce traffic accidents.

“The deaths caused by road crashes are not inevitable. They can be prevented,” the Greek delegation said, reaffirming the country’s commitment to achieving the UN’s 2030 road safety targets through stronger enforcement, safer infrastructure, better data and international cooperation.

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