In a bid to improve traffic flow and public transportation efficiency, Athens is launching a pilot program on July 7 that will deploy buses equipped with mobile cameras to monitor and report vehicles illegally occupying dedicated bus lanes.
The initiative, spearheaded by Greece’s Ministries of Transport, Digital Governance, and Citizen Protection, marks a significant step toward smarter, AI-powered traffic enforcement in the country’s busiest urban areas, including the capital and the nearby port city of Piraeus.
A man walks between public buses outside of the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry in Athens December 13, 2010. Greek public transport and media workers launched a week of anti-austerity strikes on Monday expected to ground flights, disrupt services and pile rubbish on the streets in the run-up to Christmas holidays. REUTERS/John Kolesidis (GREECE – Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT TRANSPORT)
High-Tech Buses Hit the Streets
Starting July 7, new-generation cameras will be mounted on the front of select city buses operated by OSY, the Athens Urban Transport Organization. These cameras will use artificial intelligence to automatically scan license plates of vehicles driving illegally in bus lanes, obstructing the flow of public transportation.
The goal of the summer-long pilot phase is to assess the system’s performance and determine whether it can be implemented permanently, not just on buses but also on trolleybuses operating in dedicated lanes, in accordance with the updated Greek Highway Code.
Ermou street, Athens, Greece, November 3, 2019 / Ερμού, Αθήνα, 3 Νοεμβρίου, 2019
Targeted Routes and Bus Lines
The pilot will focus on nine major bus and trolley lines and will cover key routes across central Athens and Piraeus. Surveillance will occur along several major roads, including:
- Panepistimiou Avenue
- Stadiou Avenue
- Kifisias Avenue (both directions)
- Mesogeion Avenue (both directions)
- Alexandras Avenue (from Ch. Trikoupi upward, both directions)
- Patission Street (both directions)
- Dimitriou Gounari Street (Piraeus)
- Ethnikis Antistaseos Street (Piraeus)
- Heroon Polytechniou Street (opposite direction, Piraeus)
The bus lines involved include:
- 904: Karaiskaki Square – Piraeus Station – Freattyda (circular route)
- 909: Agios Vasileios – Agia Sofia – Nikaia Hospital
- 831: Piraeus – Aigaleo
- A7: Kifisia – Stournari
- B5: Larissa Station – Alexandras Avenue – Agia Paraskevi
- 035: Ano Kypseli – Petralona – Tavros
- 227: Ano Petralona – Agios Artemios
- 608: Galatsi – Academy – Zografou Cemetery
- 550: Palaio Faliro – Platanos Square, Kifisia
The buses equipped with the surveillance system include 6–7 electric and 3–4 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
How the System Works
During the pilot, all camera data will be processed by a private company, Wilkins, and forwarded to traffic police. In the future, once the fully integrated Digital Traffic Violation Management System is operational—expected by early 2026—violations will be automatically detected and processed.
This system will link with all surveillance cameras and immediately issue fines via SMS or the recipient’s digital mailbox on the Greek government’s Gov.gr Wallet app. A national tender is already underway to develop the unified platform that will handle detection, validation, and penalty enforcement.
Expansion Plans Include Fixed Cameras
Beyond the bus-mounted cameras, fixed cameras will also be tested in eight municipalities across the Athens metropolitan area. These will monitor not only bus lane violations but also speeding, red-light running, seatbelt and helmet non-use, mobile phone use while driving, and pedestrian crossing violations.
The municipalities participating in this trial include:
- Athens
- Agia Paraskevi
- Rafina-Pikermi
- Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni
- Elliniko-Argyroupoli
- Filothei-Psychiko
- Alimos
- Kallithea
A Nationwide Smart Traffic Enforcement Vision
Once fully deployed, the new system will comprise approximately 2,500 surveillance cameras—2,000 fixed and 500 mobile units mounted on public transport vehicles. The first phase will incorporate 388 cameras already being installed by the Attica Region, along with existing infrastructure from Attiki Odos (Athens ring road) and other transport operators.
This major digital transformation of Greece’s traffic enforcement system aims to modernize how violations are detected and addressed—ultimately making urban transport smoother, faster, and safer for commuters across the capital.
