Traffic police in the Athens region conducted the crackdown between the early hours of November 21 and November 22, focusing on violations linked to drunk driving and excessive speeding—two persistent causes of serious accidents in the country. Despite stricter traffic laws and harsher penalties recently introduced, officials say reckless behavior on the roads remains widespread, especially at night when many drivers get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

During the operation, officers detected a vehicle traveling at 240 km/h on the Athens–Lamia National Highway, where the speed limit is 100 km/h. Police initiated a pursuit and managed to stop the driver after approximately 2 kilometers.

A breathalyzer test showed the driver was over the legal blood-alcohol limit. The first measurement registered 0.40, compared to the permitted 0.24.

The man was arrested on charges of dangerous driving, had his driver’s license revoked, and received a €2,000 fine, in line with Greece’s tougher penalties for high-risk offenses.

Traffic authorities say operations of this scale will continue, stressing that excessive speed and alcohol remain among the leading contributors to fatal crashes.