Greece recorded 2,365 traffic crashes involving motorcycles in the Attica region during the first eight months of 2026, including 27 fatal crashes, according to data from the Hellenic Police.
The figures represent an improvement compared with the same period in 2025, when Attica recorded 2,655 motorcycle crashes, 39 of them fatal.
The latest figures come after a deadly crash on early Tuesday, on Alexandras Avenue in Athens that killed three people and renewed attention on motorcycle safety in Greece.
Three killed in Athens motorcycle crash
The crash occurred at around 1:30 a.m. when two motorcycles collided in a side-impact crash on Alexandras Avenue.
Two 27-year-old women were traveling on one motorcycle, while a 51-year-old man was riding the other. According to police, none of the three was wearing a helmet.
Authorities are also investigating whether a traffic light was violated.
The crash has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by motorcycle riders, who account for a disproportionately large share of road fatalities in Greece.
Helmet use remains a major concern
According to the Panos Mylonas Road Safety Institute, the majority of motorcycle riders killed on Greek roads in recent years were not wearing helmets.
Internationally, approximately 75% of motorcycle rider deaths are attributed to traumatic brain injuries.
The institute also says motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets are three times more likely to die in a traffic crash. Compared with car drivers, their risk is 16 times higher.
At the European level, users of powered two-wheelers, including motorcycles and mopeds, account for an estimated 21% of all road traffic deaths.
Greece recorded the highest share of motorcycle-related fatalities in the European Union in 2020, at 32.2%.
Greece has one of Europe’s largest motorcycle fleets
Motorcycles and mopeds are widely used for transportation in Greece. The country has one of Europe’s largest motorcycle fleets, with more than 1.7 million motorcycles estimated to be in circulation.
Greece ranks second only to Italy in the ratio of motorcycles to population.
Despite the high number of motorcycles on Greek roads, data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority show a long-term decline in motorcycle deaths.
Between 2007 and 2024, the number of motorcycle riders killed on the roads fell by 37.1%, from 426 to 268. Among moped riders, fatalities declined by 55.8%, from 43 in 2007 to 19 in 2024.
Road safety measures remain critical
Dimitris Lazaridis, communications manager at the Panos Mylonas Road Safety Institute, told Greek newspaper Ta Nea that the circumstances of the Alexandras Avenue crash were still being investigated and should not be prejudged.
He said, however, that motorcycle riders continue to represent a disproportionately large share of road crash victims in Greece.
“Using a certified and properly fastened helmet, observing speed limits and traffic signals, and maintaining constant attention on the road are critical choices for life,” Lazaridis said.
He added that protecting vulnerable road users also requires safer infrastructure, effective enforcement, and systematic education and public awareness.
Thousands of helmet checks conducted
The latest figures come as Greek authorities have intensified enforcement against riding without a helmet.
From Aug. 24 to 30, the Hellenic Police conducted 22,971 checks nationwide as part of the 61st week of its “Zero Tolerance for Non-Use of Helmets” campaign.
Authorities recorded 2,656 violations among motorcycle and other two-wheeled vehicle riders, as well as 302 violations involving passengers on two-wheelers, light personal electric vehicles and ATVs.
Under Greece’s new Traffic Code, penalties for riding without a helmet have been increased. Drivers face a €350 fine and a 30-day suspension of their driving license, while passengers on two-wheelers face a €350 fine.
Penalties increase significantly in cases of repeat offenses.
