The goal of this analytical study (using as baseline the strict rules of the road in California) will be an examination of the following problems of Traffic safety: the unacceptably frequent vehicle crashes; deficient driver education and training leading to the initial licensing and license renewal (for private cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles); aggressive driving; safety belts for the driver and passengers, helmets for motorcyclists and bicycle riders; child-safety seats; driving under the influence (DUI); use of random alcohol screening for reducing motor vehicle crash injuries; effectiveness of Ignition Interlock devices in reducing Drunk Driving recidivism; automated enforcement of Traffic safety rules, including violations at intersections; the simplification of all driver's handbooks; emergency treatment of crash victims; persistent public affairs campaign for traffic safety; effect of High School Driver Education on Motor vehicle crashes and violations and other issues.

This will be followed by a review of the Road network regarding geometry and quality of construction, road signs, dividers on two lane roadways and other issues regarding the National freeways and secondary roads, followed by an inspection and examination of those sections that are known for high rates of vehicle crashes. Moreover, an on the spot review of Trauma Centers will be undertaken especially in provincial cities, together with a study of the organization and effectiveness for emergency care, by the ambulance system and the evaluation of training, continuous postgraduate education and the mode of certification of paramedical personnel, especially for on the accident scene, and the rest of prehospital patient care. The study will be consummated with two days of final analytical review of the findings and interactive discussions with local experts and Ministry officials, for preparing preliminary recommendations which eventually will be included into a fully documented Report. This report will spell out our measures for improving Traffic Safety in Greece. Emphasis will be placed on modern technology for automated enforcement of Traffic Safety and punishment of violators, an extensive and persistent public affairs campaign for the entire population, the enactment of new necessary laws, new driver handbooks, and the five-year follow up program, which will include retraining of Highway Patrol Officers in California and other issues.

OLYMPIC GAMES 2004. Recently our research has been expanded to include the crucial issue of Traffic Management and Traffic Safety during the Olympics of 2004. The Games have been in the news due to the need for huge construction projects for this unique and demanding event, within a country of only 10 million, but with people known for ingenuity and bursts of frenetic activity and enthusiasm, especially when they rally for a well defined project that has caught their imagination and has boosted their pride as a nation.

The Olympics Games in Australia have boosted the optimism and determination of both the people and leadership, due to the good number of Medals taken by Greek Athletes which placed Greece at number 20, with Spain at 23, Turkey 43, Portugal 63 and India 73, in the final list of 80 competing nations. However, an indispensable part of the preparations for the Olympics of 2004 must be the issue of Traffic Management and Traffic Safety within and outside the Attica region. A brief investigative review of this major issue has as follows:

1. Comprehensive planning has already been accomplished regarding the indispensable construction of a new Road Network around Athens, of Public Transportation Systems, and the connection of Competition Sites (Venues) and other facilities. These plans have been included into a Report of the Transport Section of OEOA 2004, which was submitted by Development and Engineering Consultants (DENCO), together with Trends Planning Consultants, under the supervision of Professor John Frantzeskakis and additional input from officials of four relevant Government Ministries. These plans will be finalized and will be developed into a Strategic Transportation Plan, after the Olympic Games in Sidney, where several Greek Olympic Officials were hard at work, learning the ropes from the "Maestro" Australians.

2. Two crucial and interrelated issues have not so far been included, into the huge planning effort for 2004, mainly, the enormous Traffic Management and Traffic Safety problems, inherent to the moving of 6 million fans and 200,000 credentialed people (Athletes, Officials, members of Media, Donors, and volunteers) to and from the 13 venues of competition and among other areas within the Attika basin and beyond. There will be also an unavoidable outpouring of visitors, spectators, athletes and others, to areas beyond the Attika basin, because they will find the urge to visit the famous archeological wonders of Greece, quite irresistible. Greece after all is the avowed Cultural Superpower on earth. Furthermore, the mingling of the multitude of fans and others, with one or two million of excited, pushy, and enthusiastic natives (some intoxicated with national pride, alcohol or both) whose aggressive driving will get worse during the Games, might produce considerable bloodshed on the asphalt of the new roads, especially in the evening hours and after midnight.

This worst case nightmarish scenario is quite conceivable, yet for another reason. The 2004 Olympics will be for most Greeks, a life time watershed event and large numbers of people of all ages from the Islands and from other provinces will gravitate to the Athens area, already saturated by millions of fans, like droplets of mercury, bringing with them cars and motorcycles, coupled with their unfamiliarity of roads and the notorious aggressive driving of Athenians natives, which taken all together, will result in numerous vehicular accidents.

3. Because of these considerations we believe that Traffic Management and Traffic Safety should be included early on into the Strategic Plan of Transportation for 2004, which has been stipulated anyway in the Report 5 to the Transportation Section of OEOA 2004. The After Action Report of our Task-Force on Traffic Safety in Greece, could include a special analytical Chapter with recommendations for Traffic Management and Traffic Safety during the Games 2004. With that possible goal in mind we have already reviewed all available data concerning the Traffic Management aspects of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

In the latter case we have reviewed also security issues such as: Crime prevention, Dignitary protection, Emergency Response (of specially trained and equipped tactical personnel to major incidents), Intelligence, International Entry, In-Transit Security, Olympic Village Security, Rumor Control, and Venue and Vital Points Security. Our relevant Task-Force Report could be submitted to the Olympic Committee 2004 as a basic requirement after the discussions and contacts that we have proposed.

CONCLUSION: The Plans for Traffic Management and Traffic Safety for the Olympic Games in 1984 and 1996, were well organized and succeeded admirably. However, for obvious reasons it is not possible to compare these Olympic Games with the requirements of 2004. We believe however, that the usefulness of the proposed study and special report of our Task-Force will be eminently significant for the staff of the Olympic Committee, in relation to Strategic Planning, but also for realizing the huge organizational effort at hand. We are optimistic that the Olympic Committee 2004, and the Government, will proceed steadily and successfully in preparing for the monumental undertaking of the Olympic Games, especially because of the personal interest of the Prime Minister, of the rest of leadership, the people of Greece as well as the Diaspora. However, it is not necessary to be a rocket scientist, to grasp the crucial role of Traffic Safety for 2004. Due to the huge crowd of visitors and spectators , the great numbers of people from the provinces and the waves of the Greeks of Diaspora Greeks from five continents, Traffic Safety has automatically acquired enormous significance for the Olympic Committee and the key Ministries: Public Order and Transportation.

The mixing of a culturally inhomogeneous crowd from abroad with the native population (read impulsive for aggressive driving, at times driving under the influence as part of Olympic Games festivities) will constitute an explosive mix on the roads , producing an undesirable number of casualties among the natives and visitors alike. It will actually be an unbearable scenario for the Olympic Committee 2004, the Government and Hellenism, to have visitors, spectators and (God Forbid) any Athletes, as victims of traffic accidents during these Games, with all their pageantry, the glaring lights and instant Media publicity spread all across the planet. The recent painful and tragic pictures from accidents of Coastal navigation in the Aegean, should be a banner for the 17 million strong Hellenism. Traffic Safety in the Olympics 2004 should be promoted into a science and a sacrosanct issue of the highest priority for Hellenism.

Our Task-Force can make an invaluable contribution to the Olympic Committee 2004, by participating early in preparations. This will secure enough time for improvements in key issues, such as: Aggressive Driving; Drunk Driving (DUI); Intensive Driver Education; sophisticated training and retraining of Highway Patrol officers (of general purpose and also specifically for the Olympics); new strict laws for the protection of pedestrians and handicapped; improvements in intersections and of road signs in general; the inviolable application of rules for seat belts; and Helmets combined with intensive training for motorcyclists; and the upgrading of the Road Network and the emergency Trauma Care for victims of traffic accidents. The Task-Force of experts is willing to study the specific problems of Traffic Safety for the 2004 Olympics.

10-11-2000

*/ (Em) Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry, UC, Davis School of Medicine, President Traffic Safety Task-Force for Greece.

**/ Economist, Executive Boeing Corporation, Seattle, WA. Task-Force Project Manager.

***/(Ret) Captain California CHP, Task-Force Vice-Chairman.

***/Deputy Commissioner, CHP, Former Director Highway Patrol Academy, Task-Force Chairman.

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