Why the traffic in Athens increased dramatically – Negative “record” in Kifissos, how the experts explain
The traffic problem “returned” to Athens, with drivers having to go through huge inconveniences and long waits lately.
Last Friday morning, in fact, there was probably a “nightmare record” in the much-suffered Kifissos: From 08:00 to 09:00, drivers to separate the distance from Iera Odos to Liosion, downstream to Lamia, ie . for a distance of 5 km, it took an hour! During this period, the number of 16,200 crossings was recorded in both streams.
As he explains in Iefimerida.gr The Kimon LogothetisRoad Safety and Traffic Management Consultant of the Attica Region, all last week the traffic broke one record after another, despite the significant increase in the price of gasoline.
The causes for this increase in traffic in Attica, according to experts, are the following:
People have been “trapped” for two years because of the pandemic and the restrictive measures, and now there is a sense of the validity of the restrictive measures, which causedincrease mobility. “Now, either there are backlogs that were left behind, or a greater need to move,” points out Kimon Logothetis.
- The schools are open and we are going through the most difficult period, just before the exams.
- there is intense tourist traffic, quite high this year. There is a lot of transportation in the ports, the airport, as well as many “circular routes” on a permanent basis of the tourist buses – at least 40 buses are constantly moving in the center of Athens.
- According to the OASA, in relation to pre-pandemic levels, only 75% of the passenger population has returned. Thus, 25% of traffic passengers own cars. “Ticket validations in the period before the coronavirus reached 2 million per day. Now they do not exceed 1.5 million. However, it is estimated that after the summer, there will be a total return of the passengers of MMM, if there is no unexpected development “.
- Although passenger traffic has decreased, increased significantly OASA buses. There are now 300 more buses in the center (from 900 in 2019, there are now 1,200).
- The sale of new cars during the pandemic period recorded a significant increase, so now even more cars are circulating on the roads.
- Incidents have increased illegal stops and stop in central arteries.
“The general problem is focused on the fact that the road infrastructure of Attica has been estimated for about 1 million vehicles per day, while according to the data of the Ministry of Transport, there are currently 2.5 million vehicles in circulation. So, in any case, new infrastructure is needed, both road and MMM.
What is happening in Kifissos
As the Road Safety and Traffic Management Consultant of the Attica Region explains, most of the problems are located in Kifissos, “which is the busiest road in Attica”, which has since its construction a poor engraving with many problems.
“Recently, the violation of the LEA by hundreds of drivers, due to congestion, however in recent days the Traffic Police has increased the intensity of controls. This fact leaves the LEA free, as is of course the right thing to do, but it also lengthens the urine, when they re-enter the traffic lanes “, he explains.
“The final solution for the LEA to remain free will be provided by the technical measures for recording traffic violations. But their issue needs to be reconsidered construction failures which this Kifissos has, as it does not have LEA along its entire length, on the contrary, it has many obstacles, such as the Vryoulon Bridge in New Philadelphia and other points that cause a sharp stop on the route – which is how we have the bottle effect».
Car immobilisation and collisions doubled
Even a reason for the long delays in Kifissos, is the doubling of immobilized vehicles on the road due to lack of fuel! “From the 3-4 such incidents that occurred daily, lately they can reach 7. Many cars are immobilized for other reasons, such as mechanical failure”, adds Kimon Logothetis.
Finally, increased traffic brings and increases in minor conflicts (in addition to serious road accidents). “There are many cases of collisions, in which the drivers … remain in the lanes of Kifissos, either to exchange their data there, or even to … fight,” he emphasizes.
The saturation, in essence, of Kifissos, causes as it is the next confusion in other central axes, such as Athens Avenue, Iera Odos and Attiki Odos. It is characteristic that congestion, lately and peak hours, is observed e.g. from Palataki Haidari to the bridge of Aspropyrgos, while until recently the vehicles were moving at normal speed at least up to Dafni.
In another example, that of Syggrou Avenue, the congestion at the ascent starts from quite low, from Agios Sostis to Neos Kosmos, and not in the last meters towards Syntagma.
Suggestions for improving traffic
Some suggestions for improving traffic, according to experts, are:
- «Smart traffic lights», Who count the traffic in real time and change their notes, depending on the circumstances.
- Its strengthening teleworkingto restrict movement.
- Avoiding their movements rush hour (07:30 to 10:00 in the morning and 14:00 to 17:30 in the afternoon)
- Use of Public Transport and other “zero carbon footprint” modes of transport (such as bicycles or skates), with parallel parking lots near the Metro stations.