Greece introduces strict new penalties for using mobile phones while driving
Greece’s updated Highway Code takes a strict stance against mobile phone use behind the wheel, introducing a clear scale of heavy fines and extended licence suspensions.
- The new rules target mobile phone use while driving.
- Penalties scale up with repeat offences, including thousands of euros in fines.
- Accidents caused by phone distraction can lead to lengthy licence bans and prison sentences.
Anyone planning to drive in Greece should be aware of these strict regulations. It is essential to avoid holding a phone while driving, use hands-free options set up before departure, and stay fully focused on the road to ensure compliance with local transport laws.
Tougher Rules on the Road
Greece has updated its Highway Code with a zero-tolerance approach to mobile phone use while driving. Officials highlight that holding a device delays reaction times by about half a second, which translates to roughly 14 extra metres of stopping distance at 110 km/h.
Scale of Fines and Bans
The revised system applies escalating penalties depending on repeat offences and whether an accident occurred:
- First offence without a crash: €350 fine and a one-month licence ban.
- Second offence without a crash: €1,000 fine and a six-month licence ban.
- Third offence without a crash: €2,000 fine and a one-year licence ban.
If a crash is linked to phone use, penalties increase further, reaching up to €4,000 and an eight-year ban for repeat offenders. Severe injuries or fatalities resulting from distracted driving can carry substantial prison sentences under the updated legislation.
Yavanet will keep updating from official sources.
