While road deaths have been reduced by 53% in the European Union (EU) between 2001 and 2013, in South East European (SEE) members reductions vary from 64% (Slovakia) to 24% (Romania) indicating a significant diversity in the road safety level in the region and the need for urgent improvements. Moreover, the poor performance in the SEE countries is slowing down overall progress at EU level. ROSEE- ROad safety in South-East European regions is an EU co-funded project undertaken in Italy, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia and Bulgaria. ROSEE aimed at improving coordination in planning and operation of national and regional road networks with an emphasis on improving accessibility and road safety. The objective of this paper is to present the results of a survey conducted among a large panel of road safety stakeholders in SEE countries, aiming at assessing what they considered to be priorities and necessities in terms of scientific data, information, and tools to conduct their road safety activities. A questionnaire comprising of the following sections was used for the assessment:(a) background information;(b) data and resources for fact finding and diagnosis of road safety issues; (c) data and resources for the development of road safety related programmes; (d) data and resources for the implementation of road safety related measures; (e) data and resources for the monitoring and evaluation of road safety measures. In sections (b) to (d), the respondents evaluated each listed item on two dimensions: the perceived priority for their personal work, and the perceived availability at the level of their country (i.e. the extent to which, according to their knowledge, the item in question was available would they want to use it). In total, 112 questionnaires were analysed. Combined priority and availability ratings as well as ranking of priorities and identification of highest priorities per country was achieved. Furthermore, policy makers’ priorities were analysed separately. The analysis of the collected responses revealed that stakeholders expressed significant demand for data and knowledge in road safety-related decision making. They also expressed discontent about the current poor availability of such information. Groupings of the road safety needs and priorities of the different stakeholders were also performed.@en

The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of mobile phone use among car drivers in Greece and its association with drivers' characteristics and other parameters. Data collected through an observation survey were used in a binary logistic regression model which highlighted the explanatory factors of using a mobile phone while driving. Pseudo-elasticities quantified the impact of each variable on mobile use. The observation survey showed that 9% of car drivers in Greece use a hand-held mobile phone. The dependent variable with the greatest impact was the driver's age being between 16 and 24 years. The results will assist the development of targeted intervention strategies to decrease mobile phone use while driving and will act as a baseline against which the effect of these interventions can be measured. Education and information campaigns have a key role in increasing public awareness regarding the risks involved in using a mobile phone in traffic.@en

ntroduction: Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes. The objective of this research is the analysis of motorcycle helmet wearing in Greece and the identification of the related determinants. Method: Helmet wearing in Greece was recorded through an on-site observational survey. Collected data were used for the development of a binary logistic regression model. The independent variables used were time of the day, motorcycle type, road type and riders' characteristics (gender, age and position on the motorcycle). Pseudo-elasticity values for all variables were calculated in order to quantify the impact of each one on helmet wearing. Results: The survey revealed low helmet wearing rates. The rates are much higher in rural than in urban areas and for drivers of large motorcycles. Based on pseudo-elasticity values the variable with the greatest impact on wearing a helmet is being the driver. Impact on industry: The identification of some of the parameters that have an influence on the behaviour of motorcyclists in Greece concerning helmet wearing and the consequent results can be exploited by road safety policy decision makers, as well as by motorcycle and helmet industries, in future efforts for the increase of helmet wearing in Greece. Conclusions: Helmet wearing should be rigorously enforced at a population level. Community education campaigns and promotion of motorcyclists' education should be considered along with enforcement. Generally, public awareness of the crash risk associated with riding without a helmet should be increased.@en

The objective of this research is the exploration of seat belt use in Greece and particularly the identification of the parameters affecting seat belt use in Greece. A national field survey was conducted for the analytical recording of seat belt use. A binary logistic regression model was developed, and the impact of each parameter on seat belt use in Greece was quantified. Parameters included in the model concern characteristics of car occupants (gender, age and position in the car), the type of the car and the type of the road network. The data collection revealed that in Greece, the non-use of seat belt on the urban road network was higher than on the national and rural road network and young and older men use seat belts the least. The developed model showed that travelling on a national road is negative for not wearing the seat belt. Finally, the variable with the highest impact on not wearing a seat belt is being a passenger on the back seats.@en