D E M O K RI T O S S O C I E T Y O F
A M E R I C A
6-27-2001
P R E S S R E L E A S E
A three member Committee of the Voluntary Traffic Safety
Task-Force from California and Texas, has returned to United States following
seven days of intensive research in Greece. The Committee was invited by
the Minister of Transportation and Communication Mr. Christos Verelis with the
purpose of evaluating the intractable problem of Traffic Safety in the
country. The Committee included (Em) Professor Michael C. Geokas of the
University of California, (Ret) Captain Chuck Kidder of the California Highway
Patrtol (CHP) and Professor Lindsay I. Griffin from the Texas Transportation
Institute (TTI) and of A & M University. An all day comprehensive
Conference on Traffic Safety took place at the War Museum in Athens, on June 5,
2001, followed by an informative review of the scope and activities of the
National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB) and of KAT, the Trauma Center in
Athens. Additionally, a series of observations on Traffic Safety issues
were made and recorded, at intersections and roadways within and outside of the
city of Athens, coupled with the necessary consultations with officials and
local Traffic Safety experts.
The three-member Committee
from California and Texas carried with it Traffic Safety Research Data, from
those two States in the US, with a combined population of 54 million, 42
million vehicles and a huge road network. Specifically, in respect to
Traffic Safety, California represents a model State in America, due to strong
Traffic Laws, an outstanding CHP enforcing the Rules of the Road, with
excellent traffic control, a relatively low number of crash victims and drastic
measures against drunk driving (DUI).
The Committee will now prepare a Preliminary Report which will be submitted to three relevant ministries of the Greek Government, that of Transportation, Public Order and Hygiene & Welfare. The Committee believes at this point that the problem of Traffic Safety in Greece is very serious and that strong countermeasures are urgently required for achieving a drastic change of behavior in the part of Greek Drivers, as well as considerable improvements of the road network and the short and long-term care of crash victims.
Many of the Greek drivers are known for Aggressive Driving habits, such as excessive speeding, inappropriate passing of other vehicles and tailgating, for violating the red and stop signs, for other violations of the rules of the road and for driving under the influence (DUI).
This behavior should and will change, only with meticulous training and re-training of drivers of all vehicles, including motorcycles and motorbikes, and with strong and consistent law enforcement, both of which will require at least 2-3 years to take effect. Furthermore the Committee believes that Traffic Safety measures are vital in the context of the Olympic Games of 2004, with the anticipated influx of 6 million visitors and 250,000 members of Olympic family, within the confines of the Attica Basin and beyond.
Finally, the president of the parent 11 member Multidisciplinary Traffic
Safety Task-Force form California and Texas, with a letter to Yianna
Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, has emphasized the willingness of this high power group
to work with local experts on the anticipated monumental problem of Traffic
Safety, during the Summer Olympics 2004, for the good of the people of Greece
and the people of Diaspora and that the time to act is now.
Michael C. Geokas, M.D.,
M.Sc., Ph.D.
(Em) Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry
UC Davis School of Medicine
SCIENCE ADVISOR TO CHP
COMMISSIONER
PRESIDENT TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK-FORCE
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF GREECE.
Tel: 925\946-1985
FAX: 925\946-1987
Email: geokas@msn.com
WEB: WWW.DEMOKRITOS.ORG
106 Castle Crest Road
Alamo, CA 94507