More than 10,000 red-light violations have been recorded in just the first days of pilot monitoring by newly installed traffic cameras in the wider Athens area, according to Greek government officials.

The findings were presented by Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, who outlined how the new system for recording, confirming and delivering traffic fines will officially come into force from mid-January. Once operational, violations captured by the cameras will automatically result in fines being issued to offending drivers.

The system currently includes 388 cameras installed by the regional authority across 100 locations in the greater metropolitan area. These cameras are dedicated to detecting red-light violations. In addition, eight artificial intelligence-powered cameras are already in place, capable of identifying other dangerous behaviors such as failure to wear a seatbelt or using a mobile phone while driving.

According to Papastergiou, even this limited pilot deployment has produced alarming results. Despite only a few dozen cameras being tested so far, authorities have already logged more than 10,000 instances of drivers running red lights. From mid-January, once testing and calibration are completed, the cameras will begin issuing fines as part of normal enforcement.

The minister also explained how privacy safeguards are built into the system. Cameras monitoring red-light violations record vehicles from behind, capturing license plates only. AI-enabled cameras, which may record vehicles from the front, automatically blur all surrounding details to comply with European data protection rules.

Drivers who commit violations will be notified digitally. Each fine will be sent directly to the driver’s mobile phone via a unique reference code, accessible through the government’s digital wallet platform. Motorists will be able to view photographic evidence, submit an appeal if they wish, and pay the fine electronically if the appeal is rejected.

The government’s broader plan is to significantly expand the network. According to Papastergiou, more than 2,000 traffic cameras are expected to be installed nationwide by mid-2026, with the goal of improving road safety and reducing traffic accidents across the country.