Greece’s police have officially launched a new traffic management system in Attica, combining artificial intelligence, traffic cameras, drones and more than 138 police officers in an effort to reduce congestion across the region.

The system, known as “Traffic Commander,” works alongside the police’s new KOMVOS operational team and officially began operating Tuesday, September 1. It was tested on a pilot basis during the summer, with its first major test expected in mid-September when schools reopen and Athens returns to full activity.

The initiative is designed to provide authorities with a real-time picture of traffic conditions and allow officers to respond more quickly to incidents that can cause major delays.

A system built for Athens

The Traffic Commander was developed specifically for Attica, where about 700,000 vehicles enter central Athens every day and the road network extends for more than 1,623 kilometers.

The system combines personnel, technology and artificial intelligence to process information from multiple sources and improve coordination between police units.

The KOMVOS team consists of more than 138 police officers, who will work both from an operations center and on the streets, focusing on major roads and areas where traffic problems are most likely to occur.

Once traffic reaches peak levels, the system is expected to handle around 50,000 traffic incidents per day.

235 cameras and 10 drones

The operations center at the General Police Directorate of Attica has been fully modernized.

It collects and processes information from 24 different sources, including 235 traffic cameras, traffic incidents, roadworks, weather conditions and public transportation.

The data are combined to provide officers with a single, continuously updated picture of traffic conditions and help coordinate police forces in real time.

The operation also includes 10 drones monitoring the Athens metropolitan area. They provide live images to officers, allowing traffic police motorcycle units to make targeted interventions during peak hours.

The system was developed by members of the Greek police to address the difficulties created by the large volume of information, the complexity of its different sources and the previous lack of a unified operational picture.

Rapid response to traffic disruptions

The main goals are faster responses, safer interventions and better coordination among the agencies involved in traffic management.

When an incident is detected by a traffic officer, drone or another information source, the KOMVOS team is expected to respond immediately to prevent congestion from spreading.

Motorcycle officers will intervene at traffic lights and manage vehicle flows in an effort to prevent a “domino effect” of congestion.

The specialized task force is also intended to address a problem faced by conventional patrol cars, which can struggle to reach incidents quickly because of traffic already building up on the roads.

According to Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis, once the system is fully deployed, it could eventually improve traffic conditions by up to 25%.

Police identify key congestion points

Authorities have already mapped some of the most difficult traffic points across Attica, where intervention teams will place particular emphasis.

In central Athens, the targeted roads include Syggrou Avenue, Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Panepistimiou Street, Alexandras Avenue, Kifisias Avenue and Ardittou Street.

In western Attica, the focus will include Schistou in Aspropyrgos and Athens Avenue.

In the southern part of the metropolitan area, police will target Venizelou Eleftheriou Avenue, Vouliagmenis Avenue, Akti Miaouli in Piraeus, Iroon Politechniou  and Grigoriou Lambraki.

Commander of the Attica Traffic Police Division Sotiris Kaltampanis described Traffic Commander and KOMVOS as an operational model connecting the operations center with traffic police units, officers in the field, available equipment and command.

Kaltabanis said the team’s sole mission is to reach problematic locations quickly and intervene in incidents that create severe congestion.

He added that the system will require a testing period under difficult conditions before its full operational effectiveness can be assessed.