Athens Traffic Ring Suspended for Summer 2025

The news in Greek

1. κυκλοφοριακός
   σχετικός με την κυκλοφορία οχημάτων ↩︎
2. συμφόρηση  (f.)
   η κατάσταση στην οποία κάτι είναι γεμάτο και δεν υπάρχει αρκετός χώρος ↩︎
3. ρύπανση  (f.)
   η μόλυνση του περιβάλλοντος από επιβλαβείς ουσίες ↩︎
4. εξαίρεση  (f.)
   η περίπτωση που δεν ακολουθεί τον γενικό κανόνα ↩︎
5. ειδικός
   που δεν είναι κοινός, που έχει ξεχωριστό χαρακτήρα ↩︎
6. οικολογικός
   που προστατεύει το περιβάλλον ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Until when will the suspension of the traffic ring in Athens last?

Question 2: Who is exempt from the traffic restrictions in Athens?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
κυκλοφοριακός	traffic
συμφόρηση  (f.)	congestion
ρύπανση  (f.)	pollution
εξαίρεση  (f.)	exception
ειδικός	special
οικολογικός	ecological

Read the full story

As of Friday, 18th July 2025, car restrictions in central Athens, known as the Athenian “Daktios” or Traffic Ring, have been temporarily lifted for the summer. This annual suspension permits vehicles to circulate freely in the city centre until autumn.

The measure, implemented to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, temporarily ends until mid-October as per ministerial directives. Initially introduced in October 2024, the system controlled vehicle flow using alternating entry based on odd and even registration numbers for private cars and light trucks up to 2.2 tonnes.

Traffic regulations will resume in the same capacity with the onset of cooler weather, continuing the effort to manage vehicle numbers in metropolitan Athens. The primary reasoning behind this initiative is to encourage ecological transportation alternatives and reduce emissions.

The boundaries of the suspension extend between several major roads, including Alexandras Avenue, Mesogeion Avenue, and Syngrou Avenue, among others. Drivers formerly adhered to operating hours from Monday to Thursday between 07:00 and 20:00, and until 15:00 on Fridays. These regulations notably exempt border roads within the Traffic Ring perimeter.

Exceptions are provided for residents inside the ring, as well as for vehicles with special licenses and environmentally friendly cars, such as those that are electric or hybrid. Certain emission standard cars registered after specified dates in the European Union are also included in these exemptions.

Failure to comply with the traffic rules previously enforced can lead to penalties, with fines up to 200 euros for violators. Motorists are reminded that these regulations, consistent with the yearly schedule, will return alongside the autumn travel patterns, maintaining the city’s commitment to managing urban mobility effectively.

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