A new integrated operational system for traffic management, developed by the Greek Police and termed Traffic Commander, is set to debut in Athens on September 1.
The system will work in conjunction with the Central Road Congestion Improvement Measures Team, which aims to alleviate traffic jams by employing cameras, drones, motorcycle officers, and traditional traffic police, AMNA reports.
According to Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis, once the system is fully deployed, it could gradually lead to an improvement in traffic flow of up to 25 percent over time in the Greek capital.
Real-time traffic intelligence aided by drones and AI traffic cameras
Recent data have suggested that drivers in Athens spend 1/3 of the day in traffic congestion. A study published in January 2025 showed that the Greek capital ranked eighth in Europe for the time needed to travel 10 kilometers, which is close to 30 minutes on average.
With a population exceeding 4 million, the region of Attica sees approximately 700,000 vehicles enter central Athens daily, navigating a road network that extends over 1,623 kilometres, per AMNA.
Police estimate that once traffic volumes peak, the new Traffic Commander system will manage around 50,000 traffic incidents every day.
Traffic Commander will combine police manpower with advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to address traffic issues throughout the Athens metropolitan area.
How the Traffic Commander system works
Attica Traffic Police Director Sotiris Kaltampanis told AMNA that Traffic Commander is in fact an operational model linking the Operational Centre with Traffic Police units, officers on the ground, available resources and command.
The operational centre has been fully modernised and will collect and process data from 24 different sources, which include 235 traffic cameras, traffic incidents, roadworks, weather conditions, public transport, and operational reports.
This system will provide a unified, real-time operational picture and facilitate the analysis of traffic conditions, as well as support the coordination of available resources to create a single, continuously updated overview of the traffic situation.
The plan will also involve 138 police officers and 10 drones, which will monitor the Athens metropolitan area and provide officers with a real-time view, enabling immediate intervention during peak hours.
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