Greek police have unveiled a new traffic management system designed to cut congestion in Athens by 25% to 30% once fully operational in September, combining camera networks, drones and real-time data analysis to coordinate police response across the city.
The system, called Traffic Commander, pulls data from traffic cameras, drones, road incidents, construction sites, weather conditions and public transit to build a continuously updated picture of road conditions, allowing operators to identify congestion patterns and prioritize interventions. Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis called the system another contribution by Greek police toward improving daily life, describing it as part of the force's broader community policing philosophy.
Mr. Chrysochoidis also highlighted results from intensified drunk-driving enforcement, saying police conducted 1,572,000 breathalyzer tests nationwide in the first half of 2026, more than double the roughly 750,000 tests during the same period in 2025.
Of those, 13,613 drivers, or 0.86%, exceeded the legal alcohol limit, down from 16,000 drivers, or 2.11%, a year earlier.
"It's a victory for our society, for citizens, for public safety. That's why we have fewer accidents, fewer hospital transfers, and we're safer," he said.
The system was developed entirely in-house by Greek police technical staff, without external contractors, and will support KOMVOS, a new operational unit within the Attica Traffic Police Directorate.
It draws on 10 drones donated by the Union of Greek Shipowners, operated by 15 certified pilots working alongside 135 trained field traffic coordinators.
The system is managed from a renovated central operations room equipped with a multi-screen video wall, allowing commanders to dynamically redeploy patrol units, motorcycles and vehicles based on real-time need rather than fixed positioning. Field personnel are equipped with operational tablets linked to police databases, enabling digital citation processing on-site.
Mr. Chrysochoidis said the system will generate monthly performance reports to track intervention effectiveness, calling traffic congestion, after inflation, the most pressing issue facing the greater Athens area.