Greece traffic rules

Until what age should your child be in a child seat? How fast can you drive in Greece and what are the traffic rules for bicycles? We have listed the most important traffic rules. These include traffic jams, mobile calling behind the wheel, and the speed limit. The traffic rules in Greece are sometimes slightly different than in your home country. Read it here ….

Greece traffic rules in general

General Greek traffic rules

• Some important general traffic rules are listed here, including a number of traffic rules that my differ from the ones applicable in your home country.

Drive safely

• In Greece, the general rule applies that the driver of a vehicle must always keep his attention on his vehicle and the traffic.
• Based on this rule, you as a driver can be fined if, for example, you smoke a cigarette while driving, adjust the volume of the radio or do anything else that distracts your attention.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mille.
• For drivers of a car who have had a driving license for less than two years, for drivers of company cars and for motorcyclists, a limit of 0.2 per mille applies.
• Driving under the influence of drugs is prohibited.

Greece traffic rules – mobile phone

• Vehicle drivers are prohibited from holding a mobile phone while driving.
• Hands-free calling is allowed, provided that it is done wirelessly (for example via bluetooth).

Headphones or earphones

• The use of headphones or earphones for audio and video equipment is prohibited.

Riding in the mountains

• On narrow mountain roads, ascending traffic has priority over descending traffic.

Safe walking

• If there is no footpath, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road as much as possible, unless it is dangerous to them. On the other hand, people walking with a bicycle, moped or motorcycle must walk on the right side of the road.

Basic traffic rules in Greece

• You have to drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Priority

• At an intersection, you must give way to drivers coming from the right, unless otherwise indicated by traffic signs.
• In smaller places, unwritten priority rules often also apply. Tourists are therefore advised never to give way and to always give way to vehicles of local residents, such as agricultural vehicles.

Roundabout

• Unless otherwise indicated (with a stop sign, priority sign or traffic lights), drivers driving on a roundabout must give way to drivers on the right entering the roundabout.
• Priority or stop signs are being placed at more and more roundabouts and drivers entering a roundabout must give way to drivers already on the roundabout.

Overtaking in Greece

• Drivers are only allowed to pass a stationary tram if there is a traffic island.
• Overtaking is prohibited when approaching an unguarded level crossing.

Parking

• The police have the right to confiscate the number plate of vehicles that have been parked incorrectly in Greece.
• Parking is prohibited next to a yellow line along the road.
• Parking is also prohibited in the following places:
  • Within 3 m of a fire hydrant.
  • Within 5 m of an intersection, stop sign or traffic light.
  • Within 15 m of a railway crossing, bus stop or tram stop.
• In Athens there are special parking spaces for tourists visiting the city. Here you can also park (short-term) with a caravan.
• Parking is prohibited in the green zones in Athens, except at parking meters.

Horning

• In city limits, the horn is only permitted if there is a direct danger of collision.

Greece traffic rules car and camper>

Lighting

• Just like in many other European Union countries, drivers are only obliged to use lights during the day when visibility is poor.

Children in the car in Greece

• Children up to 3 years old may only be transported in an approved and appropriate child seat.
• Children up to the age of 12 years who are less than 1.35 m tall must be transported in an approved and appropriate child restraint or on an approved and appropriate booster seat.
• A normal seat belt is sufficient for children aged 12 and older with a height of at least 1.35 m.
• If a child is transported with the back to the front in the front seat, the airbag must be deactivated.

Smoking in the car in Greece

• It is illegal in Greece to smoke in the car in the presence of a child under 12 years of age. The fine for breaking this rule is high.

Cargo

• Cargo that protrudes more than 1 m at the rear must be provided with a red and white striped marking sign.
• The load may protrude by a maximum of 40 cm in width, calculated from the vehicle lights. Wider cargo must be marked. The maximum width of a vehicle including load is 2.55 m excluding mirrors.
• At night and in poor visibility, the load must be made visible by placing light and reflectors at the front (white) and the rear (red).

If your car uses natural gas, of which the availability in Greece is very limited: an up-to-date overview of all gas filling stations can be found in the PitPoint app for IOS and Android. We advise you to download the app before you travel to Greece.

Greece traffic rules moped and light moped

Helmet

• Wearing a helmet is mandatory for both moped and light-moped riders.

Lighting

• For a moped, low beam is mandatory at night and in poor visibility. However, you are advised to also use low beam during the day.

Greece traffic rules – passengers on the moped in Greece

• It is allowed to transport a passenger on a moped or moped if a special seat is available for this.

Greece traffic rules caravan and trailer

Dimensions, maximums in Greece

• A: Any bicycle carrier on the back is included in the length.
• B: Pay attention to regulations that may apply to your ferry services when travelling to Greece by boat from Italy or Croatia, and from the Greek mainland to the Greek islands

Greece traffic rules traffic rules bicycle

Helmet

• Wearing a helmet is not mandatory in Greece.

Mobile phone

• As far as is known, cyclists are prohibited from holding a mobile phone while driving.
• Hands-free calling is allowed.

Greece traffic rules – lighting and other requirements on the bike in Greece

• Bicycles must have fixed lights. The light on the front of the bicycle should be white or yellow and the color red on the back of the bicycle.
• A red reflector must also be fitted on the back of the bicycle.
• The bicycle must also be equipped with properly functioning brakes and a bell.

Passengers

• No passengers may be carried on the bicycle, with the exception of a small child in a child seat.

Riding side by side

• It is not allowed to cycle side by side.

Greece traffic rules speed limit

• A: The speed limit is indicated by signs.
• B: Unless signs indicate a lower speed limit.

Speed camera signaling and radar detection rules in Greece

• The taking and use of radar detection equipment is prohibited.
• As far as is known, the use of equipment with signaling for fixed speed cameras or section controls (such as navigation equipment and telephones) is permitted.

Greece traffic rules traffic rules motorbikes

Helmet on the motorbike in Greece

• Wearing a helmet is mandatory for both driver and passenger.
• Passengers in a sidecar do not need to wear a helmet.
• The driver and passenger (s) of a trike must wear a helmet. The driver and passenger (s) of a quad bike must wear a full-face helmet or a motorcycle helmet and goggles. Only if the trike or quad has a cabin, a helmet is not mandatory.
• If the driver’s helmet does not have a visor, the driver must wear goggles.

Traffic rules for lighting in Greece

• The use of dipped headlights during the day is mandatory on the motorbike in Greece.

Passengers on the motorbike in Greece

• It is allowed to carry a passenger.
• Children under the age of 5 must be transported in a suitable child seat and wear a properly fitting helmet.

Greece traffic rules – trailers

• Motorcycles with a foreign registration number are allowed to tow a trailer.

Greece traffic rules and traffic road signs

• The warning signs usually have a yellow instead of white background.
• All main roads and minor roads have signposts with text in Greek and English.
• A rectangular blue sign containing a white field with a black silhouette of a village or townscape indicates the start of the city limits. The same sign with a slanting red line indicates the end of the city limits. Blue and white signs with a black city name are also used to indicate city limit areas.

Greece traffic rules – car and motorcycle traffic road signs

• The sign indicating a highway has a green instead of blue background.
• A round blue sign with a tire with a snow chain on it means that snow chains are mandatory.
• A round blue sign with a white number on it (e.g. 30) indicates the minimum speed.
• A round white sign with a red border and a black arrow curving to the left (or right) with a diagonal red line through it means: No turn left (or right).
• A round white sign with a red border and a horn with a red diagonal line through it means that it is prohibited to blow the horn.
• A triangular yellow sign with a red border depicting a black half car with irregular horizontal stripes to the right of it warns of possible fog.

Greece traffic rules – bicycle and pedestrian traffic rules

• In addition to a round blue sign with a white bicycle on it that indicates a cycle path, there are also similar signs that indicate a mandatory path for pedestrians and cyclists, with or without separate sections for cyclists and pedestrians.

Here you will find more information about Greece.

Greece winter tires

Greece traffic rules – snow chains

• Allowed – Snow chains are only allowed if the road is covered with ice or snow.
• Snowfall and sleet can occur between November and March.
• If snow chains are used, the maximum speed is 50 km / h.