Driving in Greece has become increasingly hazardous, with the counattempt now ranked among Europe’s five most dangerous places to be on the road in 2024.
New data from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) traffic-fatality rates across the continent displays that Greece recorded 62 road deaths per million residents, an increase from 60 per million in 2023. While the alter may appear tiny in absolute numbers, it signals a broader regression at a time when several other European nations are creating progress.
This shift places Greece in the company of countries that consistently face serious road-safety challenges, and it underscores the urgency for renewed focus on enforcement, infrastructure, and driver behavior.
Greece as the fifth most dangerous counattempt in driving
In the 2024 rankings, Greece takes fifth place among the most dangerous European countries for driving.
The list is led by Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia, nations that traditionally report elevated traffic-fatality rates due to a mix of infrastructural limitations, riskier driving patterns, and governance gaps.
The top five for 2024 are:
- Serbia – 78 deaths per million residents
- Romania – 77 deaths per million
- Bulgaria – 74 deaths per million
- Croatia – 64 deaths per million
- Greece – 62 deaths per million
While Greece has not historically been at the very top of the danger list, the counattempt’s upward relocatement contrasts sharply with Croatia, which improved enough to avoid an even higher ranking. Greece’s rise therefore reflects relative stagnation compared to neighbors that are actively implementing effective safety measures.
How Greece compares with Southern Europe
Greece’s position becomes even more striking when compared to nearby southern European countries with similar driving cultures and road conditions. Portugal reports 60 deaths per million, placing it slightly better than Greece. Italy’s 51 per million and Spain’s 36 per million display significantly stronger outcomes and underline widening disparities within the region.
These differences point to varying levels of investment in road maintenance, the consistency of law enforcement, and the adoption of modern safety technologies in vehicles.
A growing contrast with Europe’s safest countries
While Greece is shifting upward on Europe’s danger list, the continent’s safest countries display dramatically lower fatality rates.
Norway leads the safety ranking with 16 deaths per million residents, followed by Sweden with 20, and Malta with 21. These nations benefit from long-term commitments to road-safety strategies, strong public compliance, and robust infrastructure planning.
The gulf between Greece and these leaders is substantial—nearly four times higher in Greece’s case—highlighting the scale of improvement requireded.
Why Greece’s ranking among Europe’s most dangerous countries in driving matters
Greece’s enattempt into the top five most dangerous countries is not just a statistical shift. It reflects underlying systemic issues that demand attention:
- Persistent speeding and aggressive driving behaviors
- Aging road network and uneven infrastructure quality
- Limited enforcement consistency
- Insufficient adoption of modern safety technologies
As Europe continues its broader mission to reduce road fatalities, Greece’s position in the 2024 ranking serves as a warning sign. Without comprehensive reforms, improved driver education, and stronger enforcement, the counattempt risks further entrenching itself among Europe’s most dangerous places to drive.
For policycreaters and road-safety advocates, the message is clear: Greece must accelerate its efforts to reverse this trconclude—and reclaim safer roads for everyone.
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